Trigger That Inner Hulk!

My last semester of college (Fall 2011) did a real number on me (weight-wise). I graduated in December 2011 with my Bachelors…yada yada. Anyways…I worked at this fantastic restaurant in Cedar Falls (that blog will come at a different time) that serves amazing pastas (FAV!), steaks, salads, fish, chicken, sour dough bread (ughhh weaknesssss). So while I was busting my a** working there, I would always bring home pasta, crab cakes (Mollie likes what?!) , sour dough bread…whatever sounded good when I got off work. I had always been consistent at the gym while in college…until I turned 21, that is. My last semester I focused way too much on partying (with a trip to Mc D’s or Great Wall <<insert gag>> at bar close) and eating and trying new foods at the restaurant.

Insert when I graduate and get a big kid job in Ames, IA.

I moved to Ames and realized how much I didn’t take care of my body. (People here are flippin FIT!) I had a muffin top in pants that should fit me perfectly or be a little bit saggy in the butt (since I was always a "board back"). I never had to practice the lay down trick to get pants on until then. CRAP. Anyways…I finally found a gym in Ames.

I started to just do my own thing, which I always had in college and stayed pretty fit. Nope. Not working. Still got that pudge, McGrath!

Fast-forward to Fall 2012…I started going to the FREE workout classes the gym offers. Cardio Drill: M at 5:30. This girl really kicks my butt. She’s fantastic. I started to notice a little difference so I started trying other classes. Insert where I discovered Heat (Cardio drill but more body resistance) and then Step (so much harder that you would think) and then Kickboxing (my FAV!). The instructor for Heat and Kickboxing always messed with this watch when we started class…so one day I asked her what it was all about. She gave me details and showed me what it did. A Polar Watch: http://www.polar.com/en/about_polar/who_we_are

I wanted that. I did some research but never acted on it until a girl I follow on Instagram started posting her results (she had one, too). Ok. I finally ordered one. And my workouts haven’t been the same since.

I can’t tell you why or how this watch just makes me turn into a Hulk in my workouts. (My clothes do not rip off, so let’s not go there.) I lose track of time, I don’t stop to complain about how much my body hurts or to wipe the sweat flooding my eyes (TMI?)… I focus on my heart rate…going up, bring it down (active recovery), fat-burning stage…go back up…bring down…relax…ect.  I just get in this zone, go crazy and before I know it, an hour has gone by. My favorite part is when I stop the watch (timer) and see how many calories I burned. It’s a total high five or pat on the butt! From November to March I have lost a total of 10 lbs. 10 lbs for someone who likes to lift weight (muscle is heavier than fat for those of you who didn’t know) is pretty good, in my book.  Don’t get me wrong here…this watch isn’t the only reason I’ve lost weight.

My diet is another big contributor. I do enjoy a Dr. Pepper, cheeseballs from Hickory Park, and a cheesy med bread from B&S every once in a while. (Cheese weakness if you couldn’t tell.) But I have focused my diet on protein and …protein. I’ll post my protein tricks and such in another blog. But exercise isn’t the only way you’ll get results… I used to think if I worked out, I could eat whatever the hell I wanted. Ehhh..no. That’s a flippin lie. Why work so hard just to eat it all back? That’s no fun… Anyway…another blog will focus on that. 

This is from last nights work out (kickboxing + running)
And I fully believe in the bottom statement!