Day One!

Frustrated by six months of workouts and careful eating resulting in no visible change in the mirror or on the scale, I have finally surrendered to the fact that my peri-menopausal body will not budge.  At least it won't budge by me doing what I used to do when I put on a few pounds.  Cardio, strength training, Greek yogurt!  Nothing, nada no change.  Now I do what I always do when something pushes at me...push back!

I am angry, (furious really) and I am challenged to win this fight.  I am unhappy with how my clothes fit, how I look in pictures, how I feel about my body.   I have always had an ok body, nothing fabulous but relatively attractive.  Now I feel like I am sliding toward a perilous future of center softness carefully disguised with clothing designed to deceive.  I need to feel fit and I know that the chubbiness surrounding my belly is a dangerous precursor to heart disease and worse (serious depression!).

Today I began a new journey, one guided by Regina, my friend who is a personal trainer. Regina  promises me that if I follow her advice on how and when to work out and by her guidelines on eating, the change will come. She has had success with women my age and older.  Dare I believe?!!! 

When I met her at the gym today I prayed that the old hope I felt creeping in at starting a new venture (workout videos, a million diets, etc)  is not misguided.  I prayed that she could unravel the puzzle that would illustrate how to move out of this quagmire and begin to reach my goals. 

We went through a series of exercises that looked simple but were difficult when she forced me to conciously flex and tighten and stretch.  I was surprised at how much I was sweating.  She told me that she doesn't like the scale and that I am to use a pair of jeans to track my progress.  She also admitted that my hormones are playing a part (more on this later).  And Bless her, she said I can still drink the wine!

Ok, so this was different.  Regina carefully explained what I am to do this next week and gave me a book to log everything I do and eat.  I knew accountability would be in the mix.

Tomorrow is a daunting treadmill routine that she swears will burn more than 300 calories in a half hour!  Yikes! 

So I raise my glass to you, Regina!  I look forward to sipping champagne at our Christmas party in size six jeans!