I've joined the Y, now the tough part...

I need more motivation to get my tush moving again. I've found about 5 lbs recently and they are on my outer thighs. I got a family membership for my husband as an anniversary present and hopefully we can use it together in the mornings when he is home and I'll use it to do cardio in the pool after school with the kids. I am setting a goal for my weight and my pants size but I will wait to have a fitness eval first and map out a strategy. Have any of you ladies/gentlemen done this already? Any YMCA-Hattiesburg pointers from other members about specific classes, machines, trainers, etc? Hoping for a bolt of daily inspiration to exercise, Elesha

Good for you! Joining is a definite start. I go to the Y in Petal, but some of the classes offered are the same and a couple of the instructors work at both places I think. I enjoy the step aerobics class. It is really good for the thighs. There is also a toning aerobics class offered a couple times per week that is also tough on those legs and arms. Weight training has been the ultimate key for me, though. When you do cardio your metablism is reved while you are doing it but once you are finished the pep goes away. With weight training, your metabolism stays active and pepped up for 2 hours or so after you are done with your workout which translates into more calories burned. Getting the evaluation is a good idea because they can map out a plan for you based on what you tell them you are trying to do with your body. I have found the staff knowledgable and helpful in helping me do the exercises I need and to do them correctly for the most benefit. I love to go and exercise. My work schedule just changed so every other week I can go to the early afternoon classes and still have time to do weights afterwards and get home at the same time. I am so excited. Exercise gives me such a boost and a natural high. I feel horrible if I can't do it. I also have a tendency to want to eat more when I don't get to exercise whereas when I exercise daily I eat less. I guess weight wise I can't afford to quit exercising LOL. My kids won't let me quit either. They love to go with me. My little girl loves to stay in the day care. They play on the playground and watch movies and do art work. My son plays basketball or swims while I work out. He is almost 13 and there is always enough kids there to get a good game going. Good luck on your new exercise journey. I hope once you get started you enjoy it as much as I do. Keep in mind I didn't enjoy it right off. It took me being persistent in making myself go several days per week for a few months before it became a habit and then it turned into necessity for my sanity and controlling my head hunger. Melissa Taylor P.S. Hope to see you Monday at the meeting.

i like spin it is great for butt and legs i ve lost most of my weight there and pre surgery that is where i was the heaviest----always have been. i dont work out at the y but at anatomies and i love the spin class there and all it is riding a bike no coordination required and something u and hubby can do together lots of men spin not many do step lol. let me know how u like thinking of changing to y bc its cheaper.and thanks for the info earlier!! crissy

Hi Elesha... I missed you tonight. We had a lot folks not show up.. but we missed you the most! I am sorry your kids are taking turns making your life hard.. haha... I understand. Those lil ones come first. I have been on vacation so its taking me awhile to respond but I wanted to say that if you go work out at night give me a hollar and I will go with you if you want. My membership is at the Hattiesburg Y and I dont go cause I am not motivated by myself. I would love to do the step aerobics and the machines and stuff. I definatly need toning badly. I also like to swim and do water weights. My husband would do any of them if I wanted him too - even step aerobics. He enjoys doing that stuff with me but its just not the same... he works late and I just dont do well by myself and its no fun to swim with my daughter. She has too much fun while I swim laps but sometimes having other adults to work out with is fun and I need that motivation. Esp from someone like yourself who has done so well. We really missed you tonight. It just wasnt the same. Everyone looked so great. Even Barry was there with his wife and he is doing so good. Looks marvelous. If your babies are sick next month - I will babysit and take care of them and you can go to the meeting. Dont you have a little one I can play with? I begged Auntie Melissa to bring her new nephew but she didnt. She was scared we would take all her sugar away. He is a cutie too.. Talk to you soon. Christine

Thank you Christine, My "baby" is in Kindergarten. That's a sweet offer to babysit, but I wouldn't expose you to this crud. It has to end soon, everyone but Paul has had it already. I just hope you can't get the flu twice. As soon as I get everyone back in school, I'm hitting the Y. I promise. Elesha