Plans, part 2

After one has tackled food, the next obvious thing one has to address when losing weight is the working out portion.

UGH.

I was never an exercise person as a kid. Being part of a soccer team, for me, consisted of me making daisy chains and tying bows in my teammates hair. I was never hyper competitive and hated running around.

When I first lost some weight a few years ago, I found that I really loved working out once I found a routine I enjoyed. I found that it helped me feel less stressed and the stronger I got, the more I enjoyed really working out using weights---my body looked completely different after just a few months. I don't look like it now, but I am actually a pretty muscular gal and it's easy for me to look buff once I get rid of le fat.

For me, the toughest part is getting into a routine. Let me be totally honest: I freaking LOVE laying about the house. I will find any excuse not to leave the house if I'm relaxing. Seriously, I am embarrassed by how LAZY I have become. Sure, work takes it out of me, but I am also just lazy. So, routine is KEY.

I am planning on trying a few things:

---Joining Sacfit, a running and walking club that gives specific workouts. I can either join them, which I likely will on weekends and a night or two during the week, or run on my own during the week. I have this thing about being a runner, which I'll likely write more about later.

---Going to the gym at my apartment in the morning for 20-30 minutes of cardio before breakfast. Fasted cardio is one of the best ways to make pounds fall off, plus, it starts the day on a healthy note.

---Returning to Bikram Yoga. It's my absolute favorite way to exercise. I feel a bajillion times better about my life when I'm doing it regularly.

I'm also planning to mix it up with some other forms of cardio: spin, swimming and Zumba.

My goal is to work out six days a week, but still walk, do Pilates or something slightly active on the seventh day. I realize this is pretty much what I have to do in order to meet my goals. I am hoping that it will just become part of my day, as much as work, television and the internet.

I am obviously excited to see my body change but I am also excited to have an outlet for my stress. I am hyper aware of the fact that I am not the best at managing my stress and my depressive tendencies---I know that having an activity where I can blow off stress and have those endorphins will be a hugely positive thing for me. Especially during the winter, when I tend to struggle with the gray days and want to burrow away in the warm house, this will be great for me.

I also know that this will be a tough change to make...but I also know that I am tired of seeing photos of myself that incite nausea and disappointment.

I get home tomorrow...Tuesday, it's all happening. Wish me luck, will ya?