Goals

I like setting goals and crushing them.  In that past, setting goals was a frustrating, depressing process for me.  I was really good at the planning stages...and not so great at the actual execution.  I had known for a loooooong time that I wanted to/needed to lose weight and get healthier, but no idea how to do it.  Eat less calories than you take in (duh), but to be honest, there's a lot more to it than that, at least for me.

Counting calories is super triggering for me.  I can't do it without feeling restricted, anxious, and stressed.  It always always always leads to a binge and feeling badly (and sick).  So I don't do it.

Weight Watchers was fantastic in terms of measuring intake without calorie counting, but, for me, it didn't teach me how to eat healthy.  I could eat nothing but Snickers bars all day as long as I didn't go over my daily points.  I was losing a little weight, which was great, but still feeding myself with a lot of processed crap.

Everybody is different, and different things work for different people.  I know people who have lost tons of weight counting calories, on WW, on Atkins, or on another program, and it makes sense for them.  Fantastic!  Keep it up, yo!

What does this have to do with goals, you ask?

Until I had a plan that I could sustainably execute, my goals were just wishes.  I wanted them, but wasn't taking appropriate steps to meet them.

Over the past year, my goals have evolved as my health and fitness have.  My first goal was to get through my first workout without crying, dying, or vomiting.  It may seem like a ridiculous or easy goal, but it was my Everest.  I was so intimidated by the gym and my trainer at that time, and that first workout was terrifying.  But I did it.  Goal met.  After I got into the swing of things, my first weight loss goal was 20lbs.  After that, it was to be below 300lbs.  Then to lose 75.  Then 100.  I've also had NSV related goals...for example, comfortably sitting in an airplane seat without a seatbelt extender was a goal I crushed on my trip to AZ in March.  Even things like sitting in a restaurant booth comfortably or in a chair with arms without being in pain were goals that I had.

Now that I've met my 100lb goal (plus some, yay!), it's time to re-evaluate and make new goals.  I have to admit, I'm at a bit of a loss.  I want to gain some water weight, which probably sounds ridiculous to most of you.  But even though I drink water all day (and pee about a billion times a day as a result), I am chronically dehydrated (as are lots of people).  My body composition is improving slowly but surely, and my percentage of body water is slowly creeping up.  The more fat I lose, the more it goes up (thank GOD).  But it's only at 39%, and it should be at least 50%.  The problem with this goal is that I need it to be tangible and concrete, and I'm not sure how to quantify water weight gain in a way that is attainable on a monthly basis.  *le sigh*

I would also love to put on some muscle.  Again, my percentage of muscle keeps increasing as my fat percentage goes down, but pounds wise, I've actually lost some muscle this year.  The small amount I've lost, considering that I've lost 113lbs, is pretty fantastic.  But eventually, I'd like some sweet gains.  I want a big, amazing ass, what can I say (well, it's already pretty big and amazing, but I want it to be like Kim Kardashian-ey).

Also, I'm most certainly not done losing weight (at least, I hope not).  I'd still like to lose a solid 50 more pounds, possibly more.  But it's tricky, because I'm now at the point where people are starting to ask about my "goal weight."  And I have no idea what it is.  I hope I'll know it when I get there, but as of now, I have no idea what it is.  Because it depends more on how I feel and look than the number on the scale (never thought I'd say that).  I could surprise myself and stop before my 50lb loss.  Maybe I'll get to 210 and decide that's perfect.  Maybe I'll lose the 50 and decide I need to lose more.

I guess I'm just trying to throw this out there...make goals for yourself!  Make them achievable, measurable, and REALISTIC, so you can pleasantly surprise yourself when you crush them.

Go gain a pound of muscle.

Go sit in a restaurant booth.

Go get that Kim Kardashian ass.

A despreate plea on behalf of my trainer

I'm making a desperate plea to all fellow gym-goers out there.

For the love of God and all things holy...

RE-RACK YOUR WEIGHTS.

CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DAMN SELF.

If you want to see a generally kind, patient, positive, and sweet man (or any gym employee/polite gym-goer, really) get even a little bit annoyed, by all means, leave your weights on the machine.  Hell, leave them on the floor!  Re-rack multiple weights of plates on the same bar (this is most effective if you put 5lb plates under/before like 35-45lb plates). 

Mind you, this same man had the patience to tolerate listening to my whiny voice for 30 straight minutes today without acting upon his probable desire to smack me in the face to shut me up (but come ON, he made me do thrusters.  THRUSTERS, Y'ALL.  UGH.  Plus I'm just having one of those days...)...so it's not as if he's easily annoyed.

But what he cannot tolerate is a messy gym.

YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT WORK AT THE GYM.

YOUR CLEANING LADY/MAID DOES NOT WORK AT THE GYM.

And when you leave your crap all over the place for others (ie, employees, myself, other members) to clean up, it leaves me to draw one of five conclusions:

1) You are oblivious.

2) You were raised by wolves.

3) You are an asshole.

4) You are lazy.

5) Any/all of the above.

Ok, well this last one is sexist, but I can see how it would motivate the "bro" population to clean up after their damn selves.

Music

It took me for frickin ever to find music that would motivate me while working out.

Cardio is no problem (music wise)...just about any fast song will do.

My problem is strength training.  When I don't have my trainer with me to push me when I want to stop, I need music to push me.

The songs have to have a good beat.  Not too fast, because I find that I naturally fall in rhythm with the songs...if the beat is too fast, I'll die and/or pass out.

The songs also have to either sound powerful or have motivating lyrics...hopefully both, but this is a rare find.  Most of my lifting songs sound just plain angry.  Which truthfully is motivating in and of itself, and makes me feel like a hard ass.

Need some new music?  Here are my current playlists...

Cardio:
Come get it Bae - Pharrell and Miley
Forever - Chris Brown (you have NO IDEA how embarrassed I am to admit that I like a Chris Brown song.  NO.  IDEA.)
Give a Little - Hanson (no, I'm not kidding.  This song is awesome)
If - Janet Jackson
Love Runs Out - One Republic
Milkshake - Kelis (mostly because it's hilarious)
On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons
Pink & Blue - Outkast
Runaway Baby - Bruno Mars (this song is amazing for sprint intervals, just FYI...thank God it's short because I'm almost dead by the time it's over)
White Walls - Macklemore (my jam.  I sing this song to my dog all the time and he hates it so much)
Work Bitch - Britney Spears
All My Life - Foo Fighters
Can't Hold Us - Macklemore
New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Fall Down - will.i.am and Miley
Times Like These - Foo Fighters
Ten Feet Tall - Afrojack (Thanks, Jen!)

This glorious playlist is an hour and ten minutes long, I finish my workout with a few songs to spare for stretching.  Huzzah!

Strength Training:
Personal Jesus - Marilyn Manson
Them Bones - Alice in Chains
I Alone - Live
In Bloom - Nirvana
Mosh - Eminem 
All My Life - Foo Fighters (yes, this song is on both lists.  I have such a boner for Dave Grohl, it's not even funny)
Living Dead Girl - Rob Zombie
The Motto - Drake (I hate Drake so much, but dang this song is catchy)
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Remember The Name - Fort Minor (this is, hands down, my favorite song on this list.  Be warned, it's listed as "explicit lyrics," but some of the lyrics are so, so motivating)
The Fight Song - Marilyn Manson
Dragula - Rob Zombie
Empty Spaces - Fuel
Would? - Alice in Chains
Heart-shaped Box - Nirvana

1 hour 1 minute of bad-assery.  Like I said, lots of angry music, great for throwing weights around and making me feel like a boss ass b*tch.

I really wanted to add some AC/DC to my strength training playlist, but all I can find on Spotify are stupid cover bands.  Thunderstruck would be amazing for strength training.


Anyone else feel wicked motivated by their workout music?  Anyone have any suggestions for new songs?  I shuffle the lists so I never know what I'm going to get next, but I'd give it another few weeks before I'm in need of fresh songs.

Thanks for keeping me motivated, you gorgeous man you.