'The Red Rose of Texas'
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My Etsy / Model Mayhem / Facebook / Burlesque
SeaGlass siren if you find out ways to get of stretch marks let me know!
I'm slowly stating to get back into exercising. I feel like I've been sick forever and only now have any energy to do things. So for now my goal is to build up my endurance and muscle strength.
Most of my routine is usually sit-ups, push-ups, squats, lots of leg work and some arm work. Though I'm trying not to push my body too hard and gradually build things up.
I kind of feel like this gradual workout has paid off; when I went to the pool today I got in a good hour of swimming. Man it felt good to be back in the water. Just gotta plan better, too many noisy kids who have rude and unsafe water manners.
Just swim over the kids like they're little speed bumps.
You don't know how tempting that is.
I don't think it would go over that well with the lifeguards or their parents, though.
But I would have thought the lifeguard would have given them a warning for jumping into the water over/almost on top of people. *shrug*
I did go to the pool when the outdoor wave pool was closed due to weather, so the indoor one was crowded. But $1 swim day, who could resist?
I'm trying to find the right lifestyle of changes to make to get healthier
I've started working out again. Doing sit ups and going to be starting squats and yoga soon.
So... I've been in this program for those with eating disorders.... I'm right now trying to understand when I'm really hungry v. wanting to eat for various psychological anxieties.
The weird thing is: I've been at the same weight for almost half a year at this point... so it's proven that I know how to maintain weight. So I guess it's all a matter of trying to get my body to work with me to lose weight.
I know how it goes. I struggled with my weight for years. I think what helped me most was finding a team or group of workout people outside of my friend circle. That made a huge difference for me. It's easy to flake in workouts with a friend. Finding a class or group where the relationship is based around fitness makes it loads easier.
For everyone , make sure your fitness goals are based on you and your journey. Comparing yourself to others is an exercise in frustration. If your body is getting better and your fitness is improving that's what counts. We're all at different levels and should appreciate each others personal successes and struggles.
Aziara, I have PTSD and when I have an attack I tend to hyperventilate or hold my breath. I have learned to breath through it as part of my therapy, but at times I still catch myself holding my breath.
Don't be such a guppy. -Ariel
I'm covered in bruises, I got a day off from practice today and I needed it. Photoshoots are the worst. The pole team had one on Sunday and we were all pretty beaten up from holding poses for so long.
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Finally getting muscle definition!
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Ok, so I'm not gonna lie I am kinda embarrassed to post this. Since I have been a little girl I have been extremely self conscious of my body ( I even used to wear shorts anytime I went swimming anywhere). So, this is a little hard for me to do. I know I am not over weight or a big person but I have been picked on by people closest to me so that's what is making this so hard (I have been called thunder thighs and that's amongst other names) . But, anyways....
My Goal:
My goal is to be 115 and tone again like how I used to be when I was in the military. Last Feb. I had to have knee surgery, so I had to stop working out which began the beginning of my laziness (I guess you can say). I mostly stopped working out because it still bothers my knee because it wasn't fixed properly come to find out; so I still have problems with it. Which also sucks because I was into kick boxing, but I can't do it anymore until I have surgery again (and I am trying so hard to hold off on that) I got of the military 6 months ago and so I started eating way more unhealthy (which didn't help my cause). What made come to realize and just open my eyes to how much I gained, was when I went to the doctor about 2 months ago for my knee and I weighed 152 pounds ( the heaviest I have ever been). I wanted so bad to cry after I seen that.
So, how I have been trying to accomplish my goal is.....
1. I run every other day 2 miles which I can still do so that makes me feel better.
I am doing cardio to start burning my body fat that I don't want.
2. I am doing light strength training
I am doing light because since I am trying to be smaller and 115 again I want to burn fat faster than I gain muscle, because for some people if you start to gain muscle
under the fat and it will give that appearance that you are bigger than what you are. I also can gain pretty big muscle, and fast; so I am trying to keep the lean look more.
3. I am eating way more healthier (all natural stuff mostly and caffeine free)
I drink tons of water and hardly have any sodas (if I do it's mostly once a week)
I drink all natural green tea (it has natural chemicals the body needs to help boast your metabolism) and it helps with the cravings to drink other crappy drinks that are
bad for you
4. I eat constantly, 3 meals and snacks in between, (should equal up to 6) my snacks mostly entail a banana with a little bit of all natural peanut butter on it.
I haven't weighed myself since then, and honestly I don't know if I am loosing my weight or not, because to me I cant see it. I kinda just see whats wrong I guess every time I look in the mirror. I have pictures of when I was 152 lbs but I am afraid to look at them, because of the fear I have that I haven't changed. But, I do know that I just seen that squat challenge that the french merman posted and I am ready to tackle that too. Oh, I forgot I did try Insanity.... I only did up to the rest week; which I think thats a month. I kinda up just not wanting to do that after while, because it was the same thing over and over again so it got boring. So this is my goal and how I am trying to accomplish them. Tell me what you think.
~Ashley~
I think you've got a pretty good system going there. I've recently started working out again and I'm on day six of the squat challenge and dautwo of my ab challenge. I've also been doing weights that work out my chest so I'll be perkier lol? I'm doing the abs at least two times a day,and have also started yoga as well.
We all start in different places, if it helps you take your measurements like hips, waist, thighs, etc and record them in a journal. Don't check every day, but maybe every week remeasure yourself and take a picture. That way you can put together a journal of your real progress and see the numbers and proof of your work. What matters is that you're making the effort and doing something to change yourself. If you do ten minutes of cardio every day you prevent new fat build up barring excessive over eating. If you do just that each day you'll know the changes you see are most likely toning and muscle and not weight gain. It might help if you want to put your mind at ease about it.
Thank you so much. You are such a motivator. It was such a good Idea to start this thread because I appreciate the help, and motivation that you just gave me to keep doing what I am doing. Your amazing and you will be seeing more updates. Today is a run day, so I'll be going to our KOA here and running my two miles.
Do rowboat exercise give your whole body a workout too? Its the middle of winter now, even just the thought of going to the indoor heated pool is too much. So I am looking at other easy alternatives.
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