Friday, June 20, 2008

Getting healthy, losing weight, yada, yada...

I know lots of bloggers use their blog as a way to stay on track when it comes to getting healthy, losing weight, training for a marathon, etc. So I'll give it a shot too, because I need all the help I can get. Just in the last 18 months I have participated in 3 sessions of Weight Management (at work, 10 wks each), 2 sessions of Weight Watchers (13 wks each) and the 20 week Healthy Eating Every Day course (at work). And I've done personal training and cardio classes (at work, twice a week for a month) off and on throughout. And I weigh 1 lb more now than I did 18 months ago. I, apparently, am not really trying or something.
But my mom tries really hard to motivate me to lose weight, so the latest proposition is....If I can lose 15-20 pounds by 8/5/08, she will give me $500. This is by far her best motivation offer yet...so I am really trying to do it, on my own. I mean I'd be an idiot to not give it my all. Because the bottom line is I want to be thinner and healthier. But I'm tired of wasting money with no results.
So, last night I went over to a Curves that is near my house and was shocked at how expensive it is. I actually did Curves about 6 yrs ago when I lived in Springfield, IL and really enjoyed it. But now it seems so expensive and you have to commit to a full year of payments, sign up fee is $150 and monthly $34 fee. I'm not afraid to commit to getting healthy, walking/exercising for a year...but committing to pay $34 a month to this Curves for a year is a little intimidating to me. I mean I have 2 awesome parks within walking distance...for free!

7 comments:

Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom said...

I know a few women who go to Workout 24 and I think it is about $10 a month.

I just started the Weight Watchers online program. We'll see how it goes. There's something to be said for the accountability of having to look someone in the eye when you weigh in!

SunnyD said...

The Curves in Savoy is still at $29 a month, because they haven't updated the machines yet. I'm guessing that once they do it will go up to the $34 a month. For me, it was more about joining a place I KNEW that I would go to.

I did the tour of gyms in 2004... and for some reason decided it was the only gym I would actually make an effort to go to. I even stopped for a year after X-man and joined the Savoy Rec Center with MacTroll. I went 12 times, MacTroll went twice. It was similarly priced. But I need a strength training regimen to go with all of my walking. So it works, it's fast and I'm not intimidated in the slightest.

I am, after all, the girl who bit it on the treadmill at a Bally's in front of the meat market beautiful people... and I kept getting accosted every time I went in there by the personal trainers. It was like they had fat girl with low self-esteem radar.

Eventually, it chased me out of my gym, and I was ever so happy when we moved to central Illinois and there wasn't a gym within 50 Miles so I couLD QUIT. (X-MAN is playing with the caps lock key.)

SunnyD said...

Oh, and it's weird that the sign up fee was $150... Usually there's some deal that cuts that down by 1/3 or 1/2.

Mmm...

~rachel~ said...

I love the environment of curves, but hated the whole year thing. I think that at differnt times they have deals for the joining fee, or join w/ someone for 1/2 off- stuff like that, you might want to check with them. I went for a few months and then stopped then I got pregnant w/ Rowan but never went back I know they would have extended my contract but I just paid every month and let it expire- I don't think I ever told Mike I still had to pay every month :) sshh!!
Good luck!

~rachel~ said...

oh yeah doesn't 15-20lbs by August sound like a lot? It does to me, I think your mom needs to give you more time :)

VeganLinda said...

I loved Mettler and they are very holistic about health...cooking classes as well as a gym. I just don't go as often now that I have a nine month old. They are expensive though. I belonged to the Savoy Rec Center when I lived there and really like it too (it was right behind my house so I had no reason not to go, but I only joined in the winter months because all in all I'd rather exercise outside as part of my day. Which I highly suggest. Even if you join a gym (if you do, I suggest getting a trainer...while I was pregnant my trainer really motivated me)...also try to incorporate more physical activity into your daily life. Good luck!!

Misc said...

Maybe that 1 pound was muscle instead of fat?

I go to Cardinal Fitness ($20/mo) and love it. There are people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels there and the people that work there are very nice and helpful. If I didn't have a place to go, I most likely wouldn't exercise. I don't blow it off because I want to get my money's worth.

I didn't do Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. I ate breakfast every day and my other meals off a salad plate, giving myself unlimited fresh fruit and veggies and limiting everything else. But if I wanted a piece of chocolate or some ice cream, you better believe I had some. By doing that and going to the gym, I lost 35 pounds in a year. It was slow going, but totally worth it.