Thoughts on gyms and self-image

So I joined a gym! Thanks for your input, Rischa - I was especially concerned with contracts due to the fact that I might travel next year and don't want to be stuck paying for months that I can't use.

I ended up picking New York Sports Club for a couple reasons. First, this is the birthday present from The Folks and since they're paying, I thought I could rule out Lucille Roberts. It's a decent club, but sort of run-down and their weekend hours were really limited. (I think they close at 3 pm on weekends). The Rock (near me) was super expensive. Also, my father told me he recommended NYSC because then I could use it in different locations. Since he's paying for this gift, I figured I should go with his suggestion. The registration was $59 and then I think it's $60/month. So while it's not cheap, I do like the atmosphere and layout and classes and I think (hope!) it will be worth it. I've lost five pounds so far by trying a little harder to think about what I am eating, so I think the next five pounds might be lost through actual exercise. Who knows?

In celebration of embarking on this new step of physical education, I shall post one of my favorite and most gratuitous/ridiculous music videos about a workout class:




On a more serious note, I want to lose weight to look and feel better, but for another really important reason as well. When I look at slender or fit women, I get really jealous - but not because I wish I looked like them.

The reason I'm jealous is because I assume that these women don't spend 75% of their day worried about their bodies. I can't help but think that their weight is NOT what takes up most of their precious brain-time. I have so much useful energy that gets wasted because I'm freaked out about how I look! It must be so nice to put on shorts and just go outside - or to have a bathing suit be just another form of attire. It's possible that I'm romanticizing the lives of others (it's a habit of mine) but I have to say, losing some mental baggage is something I'm looking forward to and hopefully working towards.

Good Fat

I need to get some good fats in my life - tomorrow I'm going to pick up some salmon. Eating salmon is like a shot in the arm, so good! I'm also going to check out New York Sports Club.

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Chicken
Salad

LUNCH

Protein Bar
Diet Coke

DINNER

Brussels Sprouts
Popcorn
Wine


Yeesh, what a weird eating day!

The Girl's All Right With Me

DONE! My parents asked what I wanted for my b-day, I requested a gym membership, and they said "Great." So tomorrow I think I'll check out a gym on Ditmars. It's called The Rock (grrrr!) and it looks stupid expensive, but it's also open 24 hours during the week (which I like).

What do you all pay?

I'm sure I could talk them down a bit, but it seemed like there was a high registration fee, like $200. Then it was something like $80/month. I think NYSC was $70 a month and it didn't have a ridiculous registration fee. Thoughts?

Sleepy

Today was a nice healthy eating day, but with very little exercise. When I stop myself from eating out, I eat SO much healthier. Today I was very hungry (and tired) on the way back from a meeting. I kept thinking, "Chipotle! Pizza! Neptune Diner!" But I just walked home (also I didn't have any money on me, which was good), where I ate some yummy real food. Then I cooked some stuff for tomorrow, which will also prevent me from eating out too much.


BREAKFAST:

1 cup of Oatmeal

LUNCH:

Salad
Italian Vegetable/Noodle Soup
Bread

SNACK:

2 hard boiled egg whites with hummus

DINNER:

1/2 cup Israeli cous cous
Spinach

DESSERT

Chocolate bar

Yes I Can!

I am so exhausted from the past few days. I haven't really written because I've been eating poorly. I ate a TON when I was canvassing in PA. That Obama campaign sure knows how to feed people!

Sophie & Katie - thank you so much for your feedback. I shall be asking for a gym membership for my birthday and I will just have to make sure I use it. I do need to get more actual exercise. The walking is helping me maintain my weight, but it certainly isn't getting rid of any flab.

I ate okay today, except for lunch.

BREAKFAST

Leftover turkey sandwich


LUNCH

Apple
3 cookies


DINNER

Salad
Sushi


Okay, time for bed. All this history-making has made me sleepy.

I LOVE YOU BARACK OBAMA! AND I LIKE YOU A LOT JOE BIDEN!

Gobama08

This election is making me noivous. (That's "nervous" for all of you out there who lack New Yorker grandparents).


LUNCH

Oatmeal
Vegetable Soup


DINNER

Salad
Vegetable Soup


SNACK

Popcorn


EXERCISE

Walked to work and back (2 miles)


SCALE UPDATE: Hm, my funky scale says I lost the three pounds I had gained yesterday. Confusing. I shall weigh myself at my parents' tomorrow and get the real deal.

Daylight Savings

So Halloween has come and gone and I've survived mostly unscathed. I think I need to up my weight loss commitment...it's reached a plateau, in case you hadn't noticed. I think I try to avoid eating junk in my every day life more so than I did in the past, but I haven't done enough to burn more calories than I eat.

I'm afraid to weigh myself tonight because I think I'll see a definite uptick. But I'm going to do it anyway.

LUNCH:

2 chicken legs
Israeli couscous

DINNER:

Salad
Sushi!
Grapefruit juice

LATE NIGHT SNACK:

Salad
Popcorn (but not the 100-calorie kind, the regular kind).

EXERCISE:
Walked to work and back (2.5 miles)


See, that doesn't seem SO bad but I'm really not exercising enough. Tomorrow I shall walk, as that's really good for me to do. I'm working from noon to five, so after work I should just go. If I come home to drop my stuff off or change into "jogging" clothes I'll lose momentum.