Why the Gym Didn't Work For Me

I don't know how many of you readers on the other side of the interwebs know this, I think I've mentioned it before, but aside from being a Beachbody coach, I work part-time at a gym daycare.  I've been doing that almost 2 years now, and it's a really great job for someone like me who has small kids (I can bring them with me) and wants a little extra spending money.  The shifts are only 3-4 hours, for me anyway, and it's been a great way for my girlies to learn social skills :-D Also, I get a free gym membership.  Score!

And let's be real, that was the #2 reason I wanted that job in the first place.  Cuz who doesn't want a FREE gym membership?  That's the dream right?  (The #1 reason was I wanted money and not have to pay for daycare or work graveyard shifts.)

BUT there was a downside to having the gym be my solution for health AND fitness.  The gym provides the equipment, and the personal trainers, and the gym rats that I HOPED I'd look like some day.  But, I didn't have anyone keeping track of my efforts and I wasn't paying for a personal trainer to call me everyday, so I would go home and eat whatever I wanted, because I EARNED IT!

And I did earn it.  I'd run ~3 miles on the treadmill, do 20 minutes of weight lifting, I'd go to the classes, and I'd burn between 600-700 calories for the hour.  Not that shabby.  But because I thought I COULDN'T eat through those burned calories, I GAINED 15 lbs over the course of a couple of months. Ew gross.

That's why I'm so happy my cousin invited me to her challenge group!  It provided the things I was missing.  Sure the workouts were great, but I could handle that on my own.  What I was missing was clean eating, which I could also do a week at a time, and ACCOUNTABILITY.  I found those things in that group, and it was FANTASTIC to be working out and working to eat healthier WITH OTHER PEOPLE.  We were a team, and we supported each other and were held accountable.  No, we didn't get kicked out if we screwed up and ate a couple cookies for no reason.  Everyone empathized and then said, "yeah, I understand.  But REMEMBER WHY you want to change." We all had our reasons why we wanted to change, and that was another way we all bonded.  We didn't have to know each others' reasons, but we knew we had each examined ourselves and thought deeply about why we wanted to lose weight/eat healthier/get stronger.  Those "whys" propelled us when the going got tough.  Now, I love going to the gym, but it didn't give me these things.

And I'm not saying that you can't find these resources on your own to ensure your success.  I'm just saying it's nice and convenient, and all bundled into one simple package :-)  And THAT was what I NEEDED to be successful.  What do YOU NEED?

Day 20: Dirty 30 AND Pilates Fix + Running

Tomorrow is the day folks! Tomorrow is the last day of all of this :-)  And when I say "all of this," I just mean of 21 Day Fix.  I will be starting T25 on Friday, and then my posting will happen every 2-3 days, so you won't be bothered by me QUITE as often ;-)

I figure you pretty much know how these workouts go and what my complaints about them are by now, so here's the picture journal:

Dirty 30 Plank Renegade Rows

Pilates Low Plank Hold ({C} assisted)

After Brandon got home, {E} wanted to go the gym daycare (because I didn't work today) and play with friends, so we headed to the gym and dropped the girls off.  Brandon went to the weights and I ran 3 miles.  And once again, that was fun :-)

Foodies: Meal 2--chicken breast and yams (meh)

And, of course, my Shakeology :-)

Day 2 of the 3 Day Quick Fix is over.  And the only thing that really motivated me to do it all over today was that I lost 1.4 lbs yesterday.  Yeah.  So, I'll go one more day, and on Friday, I'll have the big reveal!  I know you don't want to miss THAT, so stay tuned!  Tomorrow I've got Yoga Fix and...that's it :-)  Goodnight!