Talking about it again.

I started this post by typing 'Sorry, I'm going to talk about working out again!' Then though, 'No way am I apologizing, this is my place to talk about what I want.' And it is! If you don't want to hear about it, don't read, and if you want some inspiration, read on. (And I don't know why you wouldn't want inspiration, everyone needs to work out.)

So let's start this post over with: I LOVE WORKING OUT. I don't totally love cardio machines, I don't totally love running, but holy hell, throw a barbell my way and I get excited. One thing I have learned the past couple months is that there are so many different ways to work out and you just have to keep trying new things until you find what you love. Some people are head over heels in love with Zumba, while I completely hate it. Some people hate free-weights, but I love them. It's all about finding what works for you.

As some of you know, I started getting into fitness by doing the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
 videos. Without those, I would probably not have stayed working out. Her videos were hard enough that I felt empowered after doing them, but not so hard that I hated them. (I have done many videos where I was like, 'They want me to do what? For how long? Oh hell no, I'm going back to watching Law & Order: SVU on the couch.') After a while of doing her videos and building muscle - that's the key: building muscle - I felt like my body wanted more, so after a video I started to go on a run. Running was way easier when I actually had muscles on my legs, so I started to run a lot more and loved it. I decided to join the gym when it got colder to continue working out. From there, I fell in love with all the fancy cardio and weight machines, but still felt like I needed more. Recently I looked into classes and saw that there was a beginning weight-lifting class, which led me to my current love.

I can't tell you how awesome it is to feel and see my body change SO QUICKLY. The other day, I looked down at my stomach and saw some ripples, or little bulges. At first I panicked because my stomach has always been flat and I thought maybe my intestines were swollen or something. Then I realized it was my abs! I am starting to get a six pack. I ran out of the bathroom and shouted, "Vince! Vince! Look at this shit! Do you see these abs?!' He laughed and nodded his head, then tried to make a move on me.

It is still such a mind-bender to me that my body can adapt to things so quickly, especially since I have been eating right. My arms are already more toned and my biceps are growing bigger, my legs are showing muscles, and my butt? It's like a firm bubble butt. I can even tell a difference in the way the jeans rub against when I walk. It's crazy and fascinating to see how my body is changing, and strange to get used to at the same time. These are the results I wanted that I wasn't getting from cardio alone.

Also, the feeling I get after a hard workout? So exhilarating. Leaving the gym thinking about how I smashed my goal and how in awe I was over the fact that I could lift that much/squat that much/do that much in x amount of time is awesome.

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So here is the take-home message from this whole exercise-induced high of a rantpost: try new things. Find what works for you. There are millions of ways to exercise, you just need to get off your ass and do something. Whether it's mountain biking, swimming, running, weight-lifting, Latin dancing, spinning, yoga, hiking...your body will thank you and you will feel amazing.

Also, if you live in Flag and want to go to the gym with me, let me know. I could always use a spotter.

*All images found via this pinterest