Long time no post...

So...I haven't posted in a while, but that doesn't mean I have been slacking off!  I've actually been keeping with my workouts and staying motivated.

Since I've started this process, I've lost 2" in my bum, thighs and hips.  I've got some stubborn belly fat that doesn't seem to want to get with the program.  Granted, I'm not being as diligent about what I eat as I was, so I'm sure that's part of the problem.

Surprisingly, the cellulite in my thighs and butt is getting the hint and slowly vacating the premises.  Woot!  All in all, I'm pleased with the progress I'm making.  My arms look great, and I don't hate my legs.  I've got some impressive little biceps and quads forming!

I'm still lifting, and loving it.  I'm up to 27.5lbs on my barbell, and I'm planning to increase another 5lbs next week.  Since I've incorporated the barbell and started doing deadlifts, My hamstrings have become more flexible.  There is a lengthening of all the muscles in my legs, and I'm finding them more aesthetically pleasing.  They're by no means perfect, but I don't hate them.

We haven't had aerial class since the end of June, so my upper body strength is decreasing.  I'm going to try to increase the number of pull-ups I'm doing in an effort to keep my strength up.  For when class starts in September.    

Challenging myself...

Fitocracy has motivated me to try exercises I've never done before.  I like it because it gives me variety in my workouts.  There are also groups that do monthly challenges, like the 30 Day Squat Challenge group.  

I know it says April, but I started at the beginning of June and plan to follow it through.  I usually do a few sets of body weight squats and move on to barbell squats.  I just upped my weight on the barbell squats and thought I would be feeling it today, but I have no delayed onset muscle soreness at all.  So weird.  

I'm also doing the 30 Day Abs Challenge.  I've altered the time for the planks, because the 10 seconds was way too easy for me.  I had no idea sit-ups could be this challenging, however.  Getting through 40 in one set is a chore, but I managed it yesterday.  I have a few days to catch up on, because I strained a muscle in my hand and wrist during Midsummer rehearsals and took two days off training all together, so I didn't injure myself further.

Then, there is the 30 Day Glute Challenge.  Obviously, this one is good for building a better booty.  I've seen so many women saying it's building their glutes, but my bum is actually decreasing in size!   This wasn't exactly the result I was looking for.  I simply wanted to tone the fabulous booty I already have.  I know the exercises are doing what they're supposed to do and turning fat to muscle, and once that part of the process is complete, the glute muscles will continue to develop, and my butt will...bounce back...HA!

One thing I've noticed since I've begun participating in these monthly challenges is that I'm losing weight instead of gaining.  I assumed that once I started lifting, I would be gaining rather than losing.  I'm not going to complain, though, because it's pushing me over the plateau I was on.  I was having trouble losing the last 9lbs of my weight gain, but now I'm down to only an extra 6!  And those 3lbs have come off in just the last week.

I'm not exactly sure where I'm losing this weight, other than losing 1" in my bum and legs. Even with that 1", there is a lot of dimpling and cellulite.  The boobs I was granted with my 30lb weight gain are still there.  My waist measurement is staying the same - my belly is trimmer, but it's still a bit fluffy.  So...I don't know where I'm losing the weight.  

But whatever!  I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.  I look better than I have in the last five years, and I feel great.  I have lots of energy, and my blood pressure has calmed down.  I won't trade any of those things to go back to being the depressed, volatile, emotional mess I was.  I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and be the best me I can be.

Oops! Long time, no blog!

It occurred to me this morning that I have not posted in a while.  To be fair, I've been a busy little pixie.  

Festival is finally over, and I am almost recovered.  Almost.  However, I've been full-tilt going to rehearsals for Midsummer every night.  Then, there's aerial class.  AND after Midsummer ends this weekend, I am hoping to start taking more classes with Portico and eventually become a company member.  I really miss dancing, and the more I watch them, the more I want to fully be a part of what they do.    

I'm still struggling with losing the last 8lbs I have left.  However, the muscle tone I'm gaining from my workouts more than makes up for it!

I broke down and bought a barbell.  The barbell was 12.5lbs, and carrying it to the checkout station was a challenge, so I decided I would start with that and purchase weights as needed.  I increased my weight for the first time last week for a total of 17.5lbs.  I think I'll need to go up 5lbs more by Saturday!  

I'm really enjoying lifting.  I love deadlifts (Romanian and stiff legged) and the Pendaly Row.  It's challenging, and something I thought I would never be able to do.  But I can!  And I am stronger for it.  Bentover Barbell Row and I are having some issues, though.  You never really know how weak your back muscles truly are until you've done that move for the first time.  Oy.

Oh!  Oh!  Also, I'm up to 4 pull-ups in one set!  Um.  Yes!  I AM MIGHTY!!!!  AND I can do 5 full pushups in one set!  Crazy talk!  

I love the energy that working out on a regular basis has given me.  I'm not tired all the time,  AND I'm not a raging bitch 3/4 of the time.   I'm also loving the way I look in the mirror.  I still have some cellulite around the booty and thighs to get rid of, but I don't jiggle when I walk anymore.  

I'm still over the moon for Fitocracy.  I'm stunned by how supportive the community is.  And there are so many inspiring stories!  If you're a fitness enthusiast and you haven't checked it out, please do!  I'm LibasaurusRex, and I'll follow back :)

Musings...

Despite this gray, dreary day, I find myself in lovely mood (if not a little sleepy).  I love the way I feel right now.  For one thing, my mood swings have been greatly reduced.  I still get a little crabby and cranky occasionally, but not as frequently and certainly not as severely.  It makes me feel like I'm not entirely batshit crazy.  I'm finally in a good place physically and mentally, and it is such a relief.  When I look in the mirror, I'm able to look past the cellulite and see the changes I'm making for the good.  I'm not focused on what used to be so much as I'm focused on creating a stronger me.    

Thanks to a metric shit-ton of squats, goblet squats, barbell squats, dumbbell squats, and wall sits, I'm seeing definition in my thighs for the first time in years.  I've also lost an inch in my legs!  I was horrified when I put on my festival boots, and they did not fit.  I'm going to try them on again this weekend in hopes that they lace up without any gaps.

And pull-ups!  I'm so very close to being able to do a full pull-up!  My head almost reaches the top of the bar!!!  My upper body strength is finally getting there.  In aerial class, I'm able to stay in the air long enough to get my foot locks or double dance wraps.

I'm gonna go ahead and blame my dear friend Whit for keeping me competitive and motivated.  Since she introduced me to Fitocracy, I've not had a problem making myself workout.  I'm looking forward to my daily workout sessions.  

Some who shares the blame for this new me is my aerial instructor, Maria.  She's fatastically supportive.  She's had more faith in me than I've had in myself, but has allowed me to go at my own pace.  I owe her so much for allowing me to live my dream and coaching me through it every step of the way.  

Progress...

I'm feeling really good this week.  I'm seeing definition in my arms that I've never seen before and definition in my abs that I haven't seen in a long time.  

I had some minor setbacks this week, due to a strained gluteal muscle; but now I'm back in the game!

In last week's aerial class, I performed a Georgia Twist into the beginning of the Cross Back Straddle.  I really have no way to describe this move other than twisty, bendy and more than a little painful.  It's been so humid that the silks were sticking my calves and shins rather than move down to my ankles like they are supposed to.  This led to me being stuck in an awkwardly painful mermaid position for a bit until I figured out how to get into the starting position for CBS.  Oy.  

I remember thinking as I was hanging in the air, doing my Double Dance Wrap for Marionette, that I've come so far in my upper body strength.  I can do moves now that I only drooled over when I was first beginning.  That said, I've still got a ways to go.  I've only been able to do the CBS once, so I'm taking measures to further strengthen my core.  There will be copious amounts of crunches, pilates, and yoga...And an insane inversion move that my instructed tortured me with last night (but I love her for it).

(As I was typing this, I pulled a SILVER HAIR OUT OF MY HEAD!  ERMAHGERD!  WTF?!  WHERE DID THAT EVEN COME FROM?!)

So, I'm not a super-amazing-fantastically-wonderful-aerial-artist yet.  BUT!  I'm getting closer every day.  I'm going to keep doing my bastardized pull-ups, and my ab exercises, and lifting weights, and I'll get there.  I've come a long way in just four months, and I'm pretty damn proud of myself.  

Staying motivated...

I've always found it difficult to stay motivated when I start a health and fitness routine.  This time, I seem to be having better luck at it than in the past.  Since I've started aerial, a long-time dream of mine, I've have a tangible goal to work toward.  

I know I need to increase my upper body strength substantially, so I've set a goal to be able to do an unassisted pull-up.  I'm reaching my goal faster than expected since I've been doing my bastardized pull-ups (standing on a chair and lowering myself to the ground as slowly as possible).  I started with one set of 8 reps and am currently able to do four sets of 8.  I also discovered this week that I am able to pull myself halfway up instead of just dangling there like a worm on a hook.  

Fitocracy is helping me stay motivated, because I have an entire community of people holding me accountable.  Every time I get a notification that someone has given me props, it makes it that much easier for me to do the next workout.  The point system certainly doesn't hurt.  I'm constantly striving to reach that next level.  

I've even been able to get off the plateau I'd been stuck on, and I'm closer to losing the last few pounds to get back to where I was before I gained 30 magical pounds this winter.  

AND!  I can see definition in my abs again!  I feel great about that.  I need to check my measurements, because I'm curious to see if I'm any closer to being able to wear my hugely expensive Ren Fest boots.  

I feel good, I have more energy, and I love what I see when I look in the mirror.  It's a great feeling.

Love my legs...

I've been concentrating mostly on my upper body as I've been getting back into shape, because have better arm, chest and back strength is a huge benefit in aerial class.  Now that my arms are shaping up, I'm ready to start incorporating other body parts.

It's been a long time since I've "loved" my legs.  Unfortunately, I carry all my weight in my lower body.  I'm very short, so it doesn't take much extra weight to make my lower body look dumpy.  I was okay with it until I put on my thigh high pirate boots, and they wouldn't lace.  That just won't do.  These boots were expensive and are one of my prized possessions, so it's time to start working the lower body as well.

I'm going to start biking to Midsummer rehearsals and to aerial class once I get new tubes for my bike.  But, I'm also going to do some sculpting exercises.  I found this routine on Pinterest last year before Ren Fest, and I love it.

There is really no down side to these exercises.  They work your core, glutes, and legs, and you will definitely feel it after just one circuit.  The routine is comprised of five ballet-inspired moves that really work your butt, core, and legs.  I'm going to add this back into my strength training and see what comes of it.

I addition, I have added wall sits to my routine.  I'm trying to do 8 one minute wall sits per day.  So far, I've not found any of the exercises to be limiting in any way.  In fact, I could probably add another couple circuits (if I have time).