So I know this may sound like an odd title for a fitness challenge, but I want to get in really good shape before getting pregnant in a couple of years so my body won’t be as hard to snap back after…at least that’s my hope.
Growing up, I had the normal preadolescence weight gain. Then came adolescence and a weight loss which I mostly attribute to a vegetarian diet combined with regular workouts, plus being 16. I suspect that may have had something to do with it also.
Then hit college, there was no “Freshmen 15″ for this girl. Nope. The beginning of the end was a switch off of vegetarianism plus a something dreadful: love. This was only dreadful in the instance that this love meant dates…and eating out way too often. I got as high as 189 pounds, which was really heavy for a 5’5” girl. This was probably close to a 40 or 50 pound total weight gain in about a year. My wedding dress was a size 18W. W stands for wide. And I was.
Until an awful bout with mono took 16 pounds off in three weeks. Not the easiest weight loss plan, I grant you, but something nonetheless.
A few years later, 5 pounds of this had returned. Then a pole dancing class combined with cardio and I took off 9 pounds. Then a slip off the pole meant a dislocated toe and no tennis shoes for over a month. The weight returned.
I have once again battled off 7 of that 9 with the motivation to be in better shape for my brother’s wedding in 5 months. While that is still part of the goal, the reality is that I want to be in awesome shape by the time I look to be pregnant in a couple of years.
In the way of that goal is a bad knee. I had surgery when I was 11 and have re-injured it a few times since, including two more rounds of physical therapy. This means no running. Elliptical is the alternative for that. No high impact or twisting without a brace to keep my kneecap from sliding out. I use the brace while doing Zumba, but avoid most other activities where it would be needed. P90X was cool, but short-lived. Plyo is out of the question.
This category of posts will be my struggle to meet my goals, which includes weight loss, strength training and quad strengthening for knee stabilization. I will outline what I get done for the day…if anything. 🙂 And update on new workouts!