Staying in Shape

Posted Thursday, February 28, 2008 4:09 AM

I could chronicle the latest in invitations and our RSVPs (they're starting to come back!!), but maybe another time?  I see on a lot of boards and websites questions and anguish about getting in shape for the big day.  So I think I will dedicate this post to what I'm doing about this issue.

I grew up not exercising very much at all.  I wasn't overweight during my middle or high school years, but I certainly would not classify myself as athletic or fit.  When I started college I was 110 or 111 lbs and a stately 5'1".  It wasn't until I met my then-bf, now-FI that I started going to the gym.  I hovered around the same weight for a while because I happened to be living in a house with a chef (a former pastry chef) who isn't shy about using butter.  Hot damn, we all ate well there.

As a junior, I moved out of the house and into an apt.  Continuing my gym regimen (half an hr of cardio, followed by some weights), I lost 6 lbs, holy cow!  After I graduated, Alfred got me into running and friends got us both into indoor rock climbing.  After graduation, I guess, is when my general health reaaaally started to matter to me.

I started training for (running) races, moving slowly from Bay to Breakers (a 12K) to half marathons!  Nowadays, with the wedding coming up, that hasn't been a top priority, but that doesn't mean I've stopped exercising.  I remember a time when I was obsessed about my daily exercise and did my cardio (I have a spin bike in the apt) for half an hr 7 days a week and at one point (around this time last year) I was down to 96 lbs.  Crazy I know, but remember, I'm a small person!  And yes, I did eat.  I was also rock climbing 3x a week.

Let me tell you, the rock climbing does wonders for toning the arms.

My current exercise routine looks like this:

Monday: spin for 30 min, do crunches and pushups
Tuesday: 30 min cardio (treadmill or stairmaster), rock climb for 1.5 to 2 hrs (you're not climbing the entire time), weight room until I get tired (usually entails 2 sets each of bar dips, pushups, pullups....sometimes bench press if I have a spotter).
Wednesday: see Monday routine
Thursday: see Tuesday routine
Friday: see Monday routine
Saturday: spin sometimes (usually rest, hehe)
Sunday: rest

After big holidays or vacations, sometimes I'll double up on the cardio sessions on TTh making that about 50 min of cardio.  I realize that the above schedule will look terrible to some (most?) of you, but I like being fit.  I don't have much of a nightlife to speak of, but that's ok with me; if I do make plans, I usually make up for it on the weekend at some point.  I love having arm definition, my legs look fantastic in a pair of heels, and I can rock a backless/sleeveless dress.  For the first time in my life I have a toned and pretty flat tummy, wee!

I'm currently 102 lbs and have kept this weight for a good while now.  Anyone in the Bay Area interested in giving rock climbing a chance should check out Touchstone Climbing-they have gyms in various parts of the Bay Area.