Learning a Lesson

Hi!

First of all Aunt Roberta, thank you very much for the advice about protein powder. I skipped getting it. I eat a lot of egg, shrimp, quinoa (found a brand I like), and spinach. I also a moderate some salmon, nuts, and the cheeses that I'm not allergic to. Between these things I will be okay.

So, I had to withdraw myself from the gym competition today. The problem wasn't the exercise classes, which I really enjoyed and will probably keep going to. Rather, the problem was my partner. She seemed so nice when I first met her: she complimented my weight loss and we discussed how we used the gym machines. When we became teammates, she said she lived near me and offered to drive me to and from the classes. She is a fort ysix year old Chinese woman and there was a language barrier, but she seemed warm and friendly. I was happy to have made a friend, something I need to do more of.

 However as a part of a team, she was EXTREMELY over-competitive. She pushed me and tried to manipulate me into doing far more hours of weight lifting than is okay for me, day after day. When I said I needed to take a rest day once a week she said we "couldn't afford" it. She crossed the final line when she yelled at me for speaking to a member of another team who we shared a class with. She accused me fo sharing secrets "with the enemy". The same day she proposed that she supervise my grocery shopping to make sure I had enough energy to "keep up" my end of the team. I was very taken aback by her dark competitive side, and at first I thought it might be a language barrier issue. However I decided yesterday that it doesn't matter why she acts this way, I cannot keep putting up with it through June.

Mom suggested that I talk to her at the gym in the presence of a third party who WORKED at the gym. I took that advice. The gym staffperson even said she could continue in the competition if she met another partner. When I explained the situation to the staff person, we were both feeling nervous and anticipated a huge blow up - she had come close to yelling at me for such minor things before. But the minute she saw me at the gym in my normal clothes, she knew what I was going to say. The conversation went much better than I had thought. Instead of yelling at me, she thanked me for working as hard as I did and we both acknowledged that we weren't compatible partners. She then went to the front desk to see if she could find a new partner, and I left to take a well-earned rest day.

I feel so much better now. During the five days when we had been partners and it wasn't going as I thought, I was bloated, 3 pounds heavier, constipated, and both fatigued and unable to sleep. I was also grouchy. Now that I am through and everything has gone back to normal - including the weight - I realize how bad it really was. I have made similar mistakes before in choosing who to spend time with. I seem to be drawn to people who are at least a little bit crazy or unusual... people who are too normal bore me. But I draw the line at manipulation and unreasonable demands from someone I barely know. Next time I will cut that situation off earlier.

Although it was my rest day, I did a bit of walking around outside. I walked to and from the gym which is about .8 miles away, and when I got back, there was a strikingly large bird in a tree by my house. The squirrels in the tree were yowling at it in a way I didn't know squirrels could yowl. I followed it from tree to rooftop to tree, observing it and taking pictures for over an hour. Dad says from the photos it was probably a peregrine falcon. It was very beautiful and majestic, especially when it flew around, and it was interesting to see how the other animals reacted (mainly with fear and loathing). This happy, meditative time outside was just what I needed today.

One good thing about trying the competition is that I got to experience many classes, and got to know some of the instructors. I think the weightlifting class called "Body Pump" is probably the most effective way for me to build strength in my arms, chest, glutes, and other major muscle groups. It is an hour long class using a barbell, freeweights, and disc weigths - it's easy to choose which weights are most appropriate. For the exercises where I am not clear on form, the instructors are happy to tell me after class for free. There is also a half hour long class that focuses on core strength, and although that one KILLS me and makes me very sore, I think it would be a good idea for me to go. So, I will make sure to take both of those classes at least once per week. The biking class really gets my heart rate up, so it's probably a good idea to take that sometimes too - I was surprised to find it didn't hurt my bladder. There is also a yoga/pilates class called "Body Flow" that emphasizes both strength and balance. Between those, longer walks outside, and some time on the elliptical, I have a diverse and exciting exercise plan for the next while. I am rested from today and ready to move on in search of better health!