Baby Steps...... the first work out

I know that everyone has to start somewhere, and getting in shape is NOT going to be easy when its been as long as it has been for me since I exercised, but I also know that without exercise I'm kidding myself.  There are problems with this though... essentially I am a single parent, with two kids at home. (Baby daddy lives here too but checks out after 7:30pm).  This means I can't leave and go to the gym in the evenings like I would love to do.  That doesn't mean I can't do it though.  The problem is SELF-MOTIVATION!!! I have to get up off of my a$$ and do something!  But what?

I could walk with them in the evenings - but its been 100-110 every day here (Atlanta, GA) and subjecting the kids to the heat isn't something I relish, especially with their fat slow momma.  This is something I think I can definitely get into when it cools off just a touch. Besides, I want to give a positive example to my girls and they need exercise too!

I can't run - I can barely walk short distances without getting out of breath.  I'm so heavy that any impact type thing is brutal on my joints - so I need something to wean me back into working out.  But I think I found just the right thing!!

I ordered Bob Harpers Biggest Loser Yoga for Weight Loss DVD.  I love the *idea* of yoga. I've never really gotten into it, but I've wanted to, so now seems like a perfect opportunity.  I saw a video on youtube about a guy that couldn't even stand up on his own who started doing yoga and pulled himself back into tip-top shape using just yoga.  Plus I have a lot of lower back issues from my car accident a few years back, and have repeatedly been told I need to build up my core strength to alleviate it. It came in the mail today and I was so excited to try it out I immediately grabbed my new yoga mat and tossed that baby in!

Yoga is not for pansys!  

There are 5 workouts on the DVD: "Warm up" "Beginner" "Intermediate" "Strength" and "Cool Down".  Thats why I chose this one. Its  not all stretching and breathing.  He combines pilates moves in the intermediate section, and weights in the strength section to help build muscle, tone, and lose weight! Exciting right?  So I figured I haven't worked out in a few years, so clearly I'll just do the beginner work out.  Its no joke.  Its a 5 minute warm up, 20 minute work out and 4 minute cool down.

I made it through the warm up and was dripping sweat and feeling burn in muscles I haven't used in FOREVER. I am so inflexible that I couldn't do any of the moves correctly. I thought there would be at least ONE - but thankfully there was a modified version that was demonstrated very thoroughly - unlike most videos where the "weak" one is stuck in the back and you have to guess.


I'm not going to lie. I only made it about 9 minutes into the work out before I was struggling to breathe and my hands were slipping they were so sweaty and had to stop, BUT that is 9 minutes more than I made it yesterday, so I am still proud of myself. And I'll do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next until I can do the entire thing. I know its not going to be easy - but its my time.