Body Boot Camp Kicked My Booty

This morning I got up at 4:45am to go to a Boot Camp workout session. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, there is a 4:45 in the morning. Yes, I have lost my mind.

But even as I sit here hungry, sore, exhausted, sore, and in desperate need of a cherry coke… I’ve never felt better. Ok, maybe I’ve felt better, or I probably wouldn’t need to get up at 4:45am to subject myself to this torture—but it feels so good to be working out again. Not jogging around the track or doing a Pilates DVD at home, but actual group fitness. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those methods, but I’ve been doing that intermittently for 2 years and look where it got me. I’m the heaviest I’ve EVER been … pregnancy weight excluded, but not far from it. I need someone there telling me exactly what to do, how many times, with how much weight. I need other people there to hold me accountable and compete with.

I don’t have a magic number I want to lose or a size I want to achieve… my #1 goal is to be able to wear a bikini on our honeymoon and look good in it. Okay, maybe my #1 goal is no arm fat with the strapless gown… that’s not cute… but more importantly I want to ~~look~~ feel healthy. I’m down to 40 days before the wedding and feel a little as if I am putting all my eggs in this bootcamp basket. But I am really committed and making changes.

Things I have learned from being in boot camp for two days:

Drink more water. Let me say it again, drink more water!!
Quit soda. Yeah I know, those are fighting words, but you know I’m right.
Get more rest. Sleep? That is the first thing to go when my schedule gets tight. Make it a priority. Your body, and probably your spouse/kids, will thank you for getting adequate rest.
Run in speed intervals. I completely believe in this. Get your heart rate up by doing short bursts of sprinting or fast running intermixed with walking or jogging.
Protein is important. Load up immediately following a workout. Feed your muscles.
Not all carbs are bad. Your body needs fuel, but try to cut off carbs around 3pm-4pm. Ever heard the saying ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper’?
Do more than you think you can. My trainer says he considers himself half fitness coach and half motivational speaker. It’s so true though. If you are reaching for the 8lb dumbbell, grab the 10lb. If you cut corners you are only cheating yourself.