Taking on New Adventures

New year, new me. How many times has that phrase been uttered? For me, it feels like every year. And every year, I really do mean it. However, it’s been hard to really keep it up.

I don’t necessarily want to be a newer version of myself. It’s just that I want to do things better than I did the year before. Fewer mistakes in life and at work, more energy, fewer pounds, more social time with friends and family and travel. Every year it’s the same. But this year feels different.

I don’t know why it feels so different but I do have a renewed energy that wasn’t there this time the past 3 or 4 years. The last time I felt like this was when I first moved to the city and was still exploring my way and charting my path. I loved my job, was excited to be making more friends and was looking forward to what life I was creating here. Needless to say, nothing worked out the way I envisioned that New Year’s Day in 2014. But 2019 is already starting out so different. And because of that, I have high hopes for keeping up my push to be better.

That leads me to my health and fitness routine. My issue with working out is that I don’t push myself alone the way I do when someone is telling me what to do and when. So working out in the gym upstairs listening to a good playlist just wasn’t cutting it. Yeah, obviously there was a calorie burn. But it wasn’t what I’m capable of and should be burning. So I made a commitment to trying harder. And I knew I couldn’t do it alone.

I’d been going to Barre 3 classes and really loved them, but with the new job I started last January, I needed something that pushed me more and allowed me to work out when it was convenient for my schedule. Sometimes that was in the morning, sometimes late afternoon and there were a couple of times during the day that were just better.

I downloaded Aaptiv last year and have been doing at least 2 workouts a week through the app. There are so many great things about this app but my favorite is that I can find a workout that fits the actual amount of time I have to hit the gym. I also took a megaformer class at at Body B Fit and now take at least one class weekly. Swimming off and on was a nice break between the gym classes and I threw in a few boxing classes and spin classes, too, just to change up my routine. I was doing pretty good there but those stubborn 25 pounds just stuck around.

You know those 25 pounds. Everyone has a story about theirs. Mine was the 25+ pounds I gained after moving to New Orleans. I’ve managed to lose the “+” but am stuck at the 25 pound mark.

Enter Orangetheory. I started working out in December at the new downtown NOLA studio. I was always intrigued by the workouts and testimonials of people I know who did it. But if I’m being honest, it was really pricey. And that alone kept me away from this fitness studio. Over the summer, one was announced a lot closer to my home and a great offer was made to join. I calculated the cost and made the commitment to do the 8 workouts a month that were offered through this membership. In December, I did it! Actually did 9, counting my freebie to try it out. And I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like it.

I feel like the combination of workouts keeps me from being bored and also challenges me. Every single class I complete motivates me to eat healthier and keep it up. I am not someone that is always going to choose the best possible thing that can go into your body, but when I’m feeling good about a workout, I don’t want to blow it by downing my favorite nachos.

Don’t get me wrong, nachos are going to happen from time to time. But I have to remember that even if I eat a meal that isn’t healthy or good for me, I can jump back on the horse the next meal.

I understand that being healthy and losing weight is more about your nutrition than it is working out. However for me, it’s all about the working out. I am not going to stay on course food-wise if I don’t burn calories and sweat. I’ve tried. I need those jedi mind tricks to keep me eating right. Working out hard and feeling great afterwards does just that!

And that leads me right back to “new year, new me”. I’ve spent years comparing myself to others, especially in the looks department. I don’t want to do that anymore. It’s unfair to me. And really, I need to be selfish here when it comes to my self esteem. So part of the “new me” is to just be happy with myself. And understand that some days are better than others and that’s ok.

So now it’s time to recover from my good week of workouts and plan out the next week!!!