Am I a SPINNER?????

Well it's official. I start my spinning classes tomorrow (Tuesday). To be quite honest, I'm a bit nervous. I've never spinned before. I've been on a stationary bike, but not like this!! Spinning is kind of like a stationary bike on red bull!!

A Little Bit about Spinning (taken from the Cyclefit website)

Spinning is an aerobic exercise that takes place on a specially designed stationary bicycle called a spinning bike. Spin instructors will lead the class through a variety of drills and skills that will sometimes have you pedaling as fast as you can, at a recovery pace, other times cranking up the resistance and pedaling slowly from a standing position, all while pedalling at your own pace.

Spinning burns serious calories (about 450 in 45 minutes) and offers an awesome aerobic workout that makes your heart pump fast. It also tones your quadriceps (front thigh muscles) and outer thigh muscles.

450 CALORIES IN 45 MINUTES!!!!!You know you're working your ass off for that to happen!!!

Anyway, after checking with Rob, we decided that I would be spinning twice a week to fit in with my program. I decided to go with CYCLEFIT. It's funny, when I attended the Health and Wellness show back in January, one of the vendors there was Cyclefit. The lady at that booth just looked so fit and friendly and when she spoke, she was full of energy! I was interested. I took some of her flyers home with me, looked them over then visited the website. I unfortunately convinced myself that I wasn't ready!

Remember I was less than a month into my Weight Loss Journey and still weighing over 250 pounds. My mom always used to say to me, "Joania, nothing happens before its time, and if it's meant to be, it WILL be!" I guess this was meant to be. I am ready now!! I am going to do this even at 224lbs!! I look at this as just another challenge and opportunity to set some new goals.

I spoke with an individual from cyclefit today. She was really nice and funny!! She may have been the same person I spoke with at the Wellness show. I think she could sense that I was a bit nervous. She confirmed my registration and I'm all set to go for tomorrow!! Arrrggghhh, no turning back now. We spoke a bit and she basically echoed a lot of what Rob told me regarding cardio training and heart rate etc. So I feel good about this, a little anxious BUT GOOD!! So I'm signed up for 10 classes, that will be good for 5 weeks (2 classes per week).

So I can't wait and I will definitely fill you guys in on how it went. BTW, if any of you are in the Ottawa area and would be interested in doing this with me, I WOULD WELCOME the company!! I think it may be fun!!! :) Any takers???

Until then...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch....Massage Please!!!

My legs are killing me!!! My new program yesterday included some new exercises targeting my leg muscles (lunges and squats) and I can testify, under oath that they work!! I worked those muscles to soreness! When trying to sit on the toilet feels like a form of exercise, you know you've worked it to the max!! WOW!!

All I could think about today is my next reward level (lose 3 more pounds and I get an hour long massage). I went ahead and reserved my massage for April 4!! I know I won't be as sore then but I still think it will be fabulous. I'm hoping I will be down 3 more pounds by then.....afterall, I don't want to cheat my own reward system.

I booked online here. I went to a Health and Wellness show back in January. It was a typical trade show type set up where in this case it was all health and fitness vendors advertising their services. Anyway, my girlfriend Tanya and I were walking around, checking things out, when we saw that one vendor offered a free 15 minute trial massage. Sounded great so we signed up and waited our turns. We each had a different masseuse.

I introduced myself to my masseuse. Her name was Alice and this may sound a bit weird but I felt an immediate connection with her...not anything major or creepy, just like when you meet someone who for what every reason, you just know is a kind soul/a nice person. At least that's what I felt when I met her. Anyway, she asked me a few questions and I got on the massage table. She gave me a sample and it felt amazing. She then asked me if I wanted to try a Reiki massage.

Now, I've heard the term before but to be honest, I didn't really have a clue what it was. So I asked and she told me, "Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing art based on balancing energy systems. There are 7 main energy centres in the body where we either store energy or express energy. These are known as chakras. The chakras correspond to mental, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of wellbeing. Reiki is a very light touch using intention to feel and re-direct energy. Reiki helps to restore positive energy which helps bring you into harmony". There's no way I retained that info from January, I scooped it off her website. Check it out, you can even book your massage online. She's in Ottawa (west end).

Anyway, this Reiki massage FREAKED MY FREAK y'all!!! Alice barely made physical contact, but I felt every movement. I was sooooooooooo relaxed, felt like my head was floating...it was absolutely amazing. I've never felt anything like that before. I'm generally a skeptic with certain things, but I KNOW what I felt and experienced. I know I left that trade show feeling awesome and ready to take on the world. I had just started on this journey (it was less than a month) and I was in a good place. It was just incredible. So I'm hoping that we could follow up in future sessions.

So if you're in the Ottawa area, check her out. She came off as being very passionate about what she does and you can always see the difference when someone is doing what they love. Anyhoo, I will definitely follow up and give you guys full details of how my massage goes next week. I'm really looking forward to it.

That's it for now. Have a great Sunday. I plan to get in some cardio today and hang out with my son!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)