Michelle's Bootcamp Adventure Part 1

Big news! I'm getting back on the workout train. I, of course, started with a shopping spree where I bought a new yoga mat, foam roller and set of 8lb weights. I had to carry the weights around the store for a while so I consider that my first workout.

I went through my workout clothes drawer and reminisced about all the fun sweaty times I've had with my various outfits. Eventually I manned up and picked something to wear. Really strange but they seem a bit too small, I must've shrunk them in the wash or something!

So my chosen activity (and by chosen, I mean the one that Manda forced me into) is a women's only boot camp through NewBodyFitness.

My first session is tonight. Not gonna lie, I'm kind of nervous. I haven't done any strenuous activity in a while. Oh well, wish me luck!

Wait, first lets do a before picture...

Ok. Time lapse to after my first boot camp session. It didn't even start off easy. It was a series of painful awful excessively hard activity followed by two more rounds of the same. I managed to not swear too much and I didn't hit anyone but I don't know how much longer I can keep that up.

About half way through I thought I might puke up some of the delicious salad I had for dinner. Thankfully that subsided quickly enough, but shortly after I could feel Pale Face coming on. You know, the one where all the blood drains from your face which is pretty much the last step before fainting? Well luckily by that time we were nearing the end of the class. I managed to finish without embarrassing myself too badly.

Luckily Manda drove me home, because I'm pretty sure my leg would've rebelled against driving standard🙀! When I got home I Crawled up the stairs which was super funnn. When I finally made it  to the top I accidentally dropped my water bottle (I think my arms were seizing up) so I had to go down a flight and retrieve it. I almost kept going down just so that I could take the elevator back up.

Tomorrow's class is day two and we are required to bring a set of eight pound weights. I am trying not to think too much about it. I'm sure I'll have nightmares regardless.

I'm about to get in the bath. If you don't hear from me again I probably am still in my bathtub, too exhausted to pull myself out.

Sincerely,
The sorest (and whiniest) girl in Langley.

healthtastic.

Let's talk about health, baby. let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things. Health, baby. Let's talk about health!

I hope that song gets stuck in your head! Ok, so I've decided to do a spiel on health by sharing some of the things that I do as part of my normal routine that I believe keep me healthy. I actively pursue new ideas and trends to see what others are doing to keep themselves healthy and fit. Some I try out and nix within a week or so and some things I keep and mix into my own routine. Hopefully one or more of these things will make your life a little bit better! Ready? OK!

#1. I take vitamins, daily. What kind, you ask? Depends on what's on sale when I go shopping for vitamins. Currently I take a multi vitamin, a cranberry pill, and biotin (helps to metabolize carbs, protein and fat - rumoured to make your hair grow faster). Occasionally, I take Omega 3 pills, probiotics, vitamin C and echinacea.

7. I squeeze a lemon in my first bottle of water in the morning. Lemon water helps balance your pH, has tons of vitamin C, aids in digestion and helps the purging of toxins. The rest of the day, I drink plain boring old water, but lots of it so that I don't dry up like a prune.

#4. Oatmeal for breakfast, every day.... sounds boring, but I've been eating it for years and never get sick of it. I make mine with skim milk and add in banana, ground flax and vanilla protein powder. Sometimes I get wild and will throw in blueberries, chocolate chips or even nuts. It's a hearty, well-rounded breakfast that keeps me full until snack time.

5) I work out 6 days a week, doing both cardio and weights. One of those workouts if spent with my personal trainer who gives me the extra push I want and the accountability I need. I spend a lot of time on the treadmill with my ipod, and find it helps me get my thoughts in order. I also love running really fast. I especially love running in front of the mirror because I feel like I'm racing myself.

6. I eat 3 meals a day and a couple of snacks. Eating often keeps my metabolism up and stops me from ever being hungry. I try to eat lean proteins, lots of vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy. That being said, I rarely choose salad over fries at restaurants and I will take a steak over chicken almost any day of the week.

2. I have warm baths with Epsom salts a few times a week. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body.

8. I don't watch a lot of TV, especially since I JUST finished all 5 seasons of Sons of Anarchy and have nothing else I want to watch... I spend a lot of my free time reading. I read somewhere that reading burns more calories than watching TV because your brain has to work harder. Reading also keeps my vocabulary up to snuff. Speaking of vocabulary, you'd think with all the reading I do that I could come up with a better word than 'snuff'!

3) I get an embarassing amount of sleep. On weeknights I'm usually in bed by 9:30 and up at 6:30, which is 9 hours each night. I like to think I bank some of those extra hours for the weekends where I'm up until 4AM.

The end. That's it? Yep! I know, I know, nothing earth shattering. I am not a health nut by any means. There is an equally long list of things I do that are super unhealthy (see: binge drinking, McDonalds, aspartame and all-night partying) but I can definitely tell you that everything on my list is shelly tested and approved! Are you on pinterest? Go check out my healthtastic board here.

Now, go be healthy!