Working Out

Currently listening to: Ratatat! It's electronic melodies are made by two New Yorkers and appeal to almost everyone I know.

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Since New Year, I've tried to start a successful work out routine at least four different times. The first few had the most momentum, lasting two or three weeks each, but eventually I stopped them all.

To hell with looking at my arms and thinking they are flabby! As of last week I've restarted working out. Instead of just jogging every/every other day, I'm mixing it up with some light weight training, and will be paying more attention to my diet. It's really helpful that my dad got a family membership to YMCA, because there are locations downtown I can use after the move.

My main goal for working out is to become healthier. I don't need a doctor to tell me that I sit on my ass too much! As of lately I've been feeling very lethargic, so hopefully this routine can kick-up my energy levels as well. My second goal is to look better. Who doesn't want to look their best at all times, no matter what they're wearing? I have two main culprits I'd like to get rid of-- fat on my arms and fat around my midsection, especially the love handles. My boy toy says he like's them, but hey, won't hips work just as well? Thirdly, I'd love to be more confident with my body. If I look and feel better physically, it follows that I should feel better emotionally and mentally as well!

I've been going through a lot of changes in my diet lately, including my New Year's resolution to stop eating meat and my subsequent failure to uphold it, abruptly starting a vitamin regimen that also found its way to the non-habit side of my behavior, and a higher intake of junk food thanks to my parents' well-stocked kitchen and ice cream trips with my younger brother. I know that a healthy diet is essential to see all the changes I'm hoping for, so I am definitely going to have to change. My first main change is the addition of protein shakes post-workout to boost protein and prevent sore muscles. The second would be to stop eating carbs at night!!! Midnight meals of Shin Ramen are definitely high on my list of bad habits . Thirdly, I need to add more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I believe I'm already big on eating whole wheat versus white bread and trying to avoid processed foods, but it wouldn't hurt to pay attention to what I'm eating a little more. ;)

Stumptuous.com is a great place for women to read about weight training and related topics, and it's also the source of my current routine. It's fabulously short and easy, but it's also kicking my butt! After the first day of working out, my legs were sore for FOUR DAYS. If that's not a sign of how much muscle I'm lacking.... I don't know what is. I'm also doing a little cardio on the side as well.

Bodybuilding.com's forum area is a great website for finding inspiration, information regarding routines, diets, machines, etc., and discussing what works best for both males and females.

Two blogs I like to read regarding fitness and nutrition are:

Eat, Live, Run - "the food journal of a girl with a healthy mission" and

The Fitnessista - a fitness blog by a personal trainer.

I am super excited to see some results! After a few weeks, I will let you know how well my work out routine is working for me. What kind of work outs and diets do y'all follow? Have you seen any results?