Yesterday I got off my ass and met Jason at a gym. It’s funny how we go together, yet exercising is such a solo activity. For me it is, anyway. I put on my iPod, which I pre-loaded with a workout playlist (FYI? Missy Elliott’s “4 My People” has the perfect beat if you’re doing the treadmill at 4mph), put my water bottle in the machine’s included stand, and off I went. First I did 30 minutes on the elliptical (most evilest machine EVER), and then I switched and did 40 minutes on the treadmill. The elliptical always manages to hand my ass to me; but unlike before (I haven’t been to the gym in almost two years; the last time I was there I was around 330 lbs!) I managed to stick it out for more than a few minutes. My last and only experience with the elliptical was me managing to do it for twelve minutes. This time I did it for thirty, which made me feel good. 
And the treadmill… I could do that thing all day long. I started out doing 3.5mph, then I ramped it up to 4mph and adjusted the incline to a level 2/10. Sweetness.
When I was done I was sweaty and wobbly and I felt like I was walking on spaghetti instead of legs. I thought for sure I’d be hurting today, but I wasn’t. I’m also proud of myself for ignoring the urge to grab a taco from Taco Bell on the way home (cheesy gordita crunch; I can usually eat about a fourth of one). Instead, I came home, grabbed a little side salad and added a tablespoon of spicy ranch dressing to it in order to satisfy the craving for something Mexican.
While I didn’t wake up in pain this morning, I did have a moment of fail wherein I caught and yanked back my left baby toe. I have broken that toe at least three times, and this may be the fourth. Gahhhh.
In any case, I do have plans to go to the gym again tomorrow evening, and I can’t wait!
Psst… share your favorite workout songs/playlists with me! I like fast and upbeat.
You will be addicted too. I love going to the gym. The elliptical machine is how I lost all my weight. I slaved myself on that thing for a hour at a time 3 times a week. Are you using the one with arms??
Great job, Jenn! I am so proud of you! I love the elliptical for that very reason. I have been doing 30 minutes when I go and also doing some weight training. My gym also has some classes so I have been taking those. They’re super fun. Well, except Zumba which is evil.
Exercising makes you SO HUNGRY. Good job resisting that taco bell!
As for music, I totally stole all of Lisa’s suggestions. She has a whole workout music page on her blog and so if I started naming some of mine it would just be that list so I just thought I’d point you there instead. http://booboomagoo.com/running-songs/
Brisk (about 4 MPH) “Love Shack” (The B-52′s) BPM: 135
Fast (about 4.5 MPH) “Don’t Cha” (Pussycat Dolls) BPM: 145
Shaikira- Hips Dont Lie
Most anything from OutKast’s albums Stankonia or Speakerboxxx, especially songs like Hey Ya, and if you want to go really fast- Bombs over Baghdad.
Panic! at the Disco..
Gold Digger – Kanye West (a little slower, but good to warm up to)
A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
Let the bodies hit the floor-Drowning Pool
smooth criminal – alien ant farm
Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Kanye West’s “The workout Plan” (all those mocha lattes! You gotta do pilates…)
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz – “Get Low”
Stronger – Brittney Spears
Fighter – Christina Aguilera
rock your body – justin timberlake
Smack my bitch up and firestarter by Prodigy
Lordie… Just google search workout music
Ahh!!! Working out. I really wish I could afford somewhere to work out!
At one time we were going to the YMCA for like 20 bucks for both of us (on their little assistance thingy) But our YMCA really really sucks…there was hardly anything to do. I have thought about walking up to the school (like i used to do when we lived here before, except this time doing it for exercise)
I hate running into creepy freaks though that sometimes try to talk to me/offer me rides n crap though!
I hope your toe is o.k. my mom has broke hers before and it sucks because there is nothing that you can do for it
Oh gosh, thirty minutes on the elliptical machine is brutal! My best time without passing out is twenty-five minutes. But that’s with working on the treadmill first. If I elliptical before the treadmill, my legs are too wobbly to run.
I’ve been working on a blog entry for a couple of days now about workout music but it looks like you beat me to it.
I’m probably going to be stalking your comments for a while because you will have many more comments than I would ever get, I’m sure.
I’m a treadmill kind of gal myself – the elliptical and I are not friends. LOL
As for music right now my playlist for my workout includes:
Evanescence – Bring Me to Life
Evanescence – Taking Over Me
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Katy Perry – Firework
Rihanna – Only Girl (In the World)
Nickelback – Burn It to the Ground
Nickelback – This Afternoon
My Darkest Days – Porn Star Dancing
That’s a few of the songs on my iPod right now.
Yeah, what Caity said! Check out Lisa’s list!
I’m glad you’re getting the workout bug! Food affects your weight – exercise gives you the biggest change to your body, in my experience. Get into weight training if you can – nothing makes you feel TOUGHER than looking down and seeing the outline of a sexy tricep. I was able to see my tricep and back muscles when I was 230 lbs – and the less fat you have, the more definition you’ll see, so it wouldn’t take long for you to see a difference.
Also – yes – steal my songs!! I’m also open to additions – that list, although only a few months old, is starting to get outdated!
I enjoy working out with a partner as well. It’s just a better environment I think. I despise the elliptical myself, owww.
I drink a red bull before I go to the gym and when I get there I don’t have a playlist running and toying with the iPod to sort of create a playlist makes the time go by faster on the treadmill. But I always find myself playing Robyn, Rihanna hard, some Mary J Blige “work that”.
Good job to the gym. My workout songs are:
Eminem -Mosh
Eminem-Way I am
David Banner – Play (clean version)
Jock Jams CD
Xtina – Not myself tonight
Adam Lambert If I had you
Lady gaga poker face
Here’s the last workout/treadmill playlist I posted at 8tracks (people seem to like it!):
http://8tracks.com/effigie/workout
Oh, and if it helps, here’s the tracklisting:
“Tiger” – Maximum Balloon
“Invaders Must Die” – The Prodigy
“Pass Out – Tinie Tempah
“Bang Bang Bang” – Mark Ronson
“Pretty Dancer” – Mos Def
“Touch It / Technologic” – Daft Punk
“The New Workout Plan” – Kanye West
“Gossip Folks” – Missy Elliott
“Brooklyn is Burning” – Head Automatica
“Fuego” – Pitbull
“Shove It” – Santigold
“Until We Bleed” – Kleerup
The last two kinda bring it into a cool down, but still have a beat to them.