Stronger, Fitter, Thiner.

As you’ve probably noticed, I love food.  However, I live a pretty sedentary life so my weight has gradually crept up over the last ten years–lame.

I’ve made various efforts to lost weight (some more successful that others) but recently I’ve really rededicated myself to living a more healthy life.  I want to be in stronger and in better shape and, vainly, I would like to look better in (and out) of clothes.

I signed up for a women’s weight training class at my local rec center (and roped my my friend Linnie who happens to be an amazing artist into taking it with me) and it has really helped motivate me.  It meets for an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it KICKS MY BUTT.  Every week we focus on a variation on a weight-lifting workout.

Last week we cross-trained and ran a lap around the track, then lifted weights for a minute, then ran and lifted again, repeated for an hour.  We ran a mile and a half which is the most I’ve run since the mile “fun run” I did in sixth grade.  (Super lame, but true.)  By the end of class I felt like throwing up and I was so sore the next day.  But then when we did the same workout two days later it felt just a smidge easier.  So that’s progress, right? 

On Mondays and Wednesdays when there’s no class I work out on the elliptical for 45 minutes and watch Netflix streaming on my iPad (so far I’ve watched a few different Korean dramas but right now I’m working my way through season 2 of Doctor Who…mmmm…David Tennant–yum.)

Foodwise, I’ve been tracking what I eat and have been staying in the 1500-1600 range for net calories (i.e. I eat have an extra snack on class days).

So I’ve been doing this for a little over a month.

“This is great, Faith!” you might say.  “How much weight have you lost?”

ABSOLUTELY none! 

We weighted ourselves and had our body fat measured when class started and we just did it again.  I weigh the same AND somehow my body fat % has gone up and my lean muscle mass has gone down (Gah!!!!!!!!)

Needless to say, it was pretty discouraging.  I’m working out more than I ever have before and somehow loss muscle mass?  If I was a guy I would have lost 10 pounds by now.  Bleh.  My instructor told me to keep a detailed food diary and that we’d figure it out.

On the plus side, I’ve learned that I actually like exercising and that I don’t mind running as much as I thought I did.  I don’t even mind perpetually being a bit sore because it reminds me that I’m getting stronger.