Cheating at fitness. It's kind of like stealing 12-packs from a gas station

I don't know that I really have a lot to say as we start on week three. When I was weighed in on Friday I was down 4lbs, but I attribute it to my lack of eating due to being sick. Although, I guess a loss is a loss, except when it's a gain, which is what I'm worried about for this Friday, now that my appetite is sort of back.

I did two classes last week - Svaroopa Yoga and Cardio Pilates.

I have never done a yoga class before, and was anticipating all sorts of crazy poses, chanting, stretching and flexibility. Well, it wasn't exactly like that. That class was an hour and a half long and it involved a lot of poses that were very gentle and low-key. There was a lot of quiet time and being aware of our surroundings and bodies. I did enjoy the class, but I am an extremely fidgety person and felt like I was very obviously moving around. I also apparently struggle with folding a blanket into "3's" - hey, we can't win 'em all.

I would definitely try the class again, but I think for someone with as little attention span as I have, the hour and a half was JUST about too long. I personally would be better suited to an hour.

On Friday morning we had our group meeting with weigh-in and weekly work out. After the work-out, Jon and I stuck around for Cardio Pilates. I was kind of anxious because I remember my dad took a Pilates class once and when he came back he said that many people had...ummm "broken wind." (Funny that that's what I was most nervous about.)

It was OKAY, though! No one tooted and the workout was INTENSE! I really REALLY liked this class. I took the class again this morning and I plan on trying a straight up mat pilates course this week, too.

Basically, I'm feeling like I'm not giving my all - or at least as much as I could, only because I'm coming into the last 2.5 weeks of school. This is my (fingers crossed) last semester and come May I can no longer write "Professional College Undergrad - 9 years" on job applications. So, needless to say a lot of my time and energy has been focused on getting everything in order to make sure I pass my classes.

I also came up with an analogy while witnessing the usual happenings at my local gas station/convenience store last night. While in line to buy a bottle of water, these two men came in the store. They most certainly had been "indulging" in some "adult-beverages" and one that was more incoherent than the other started yelling about how long the line was. It seemed like these two guys knew the other two guys behind the counter but, no matter, he was angry and wanted his Natty-Ice NOW! The other man, who was standing a little too close to me for comfort, was bobbing and weaving and all of the sudden, his friend, RUNS out of the store with a 12 pack. The guy behind me blocks the aisle so the cashier can't get through and after a small scuffle, the employee is out the door and returns in about a minute, triumphantly holding the 12 pack of beer. The remaining friend is kicked out and the other guy is still outside, dancing and waving like a lunatic in the store window.

Now, why am I telling this story, you ask? My point is - if those guys had just waited, instead of stealing beer, they would have gotten what they had gone in for, only it would have just taken a little longer than they liked.

By cheating, however, they only cheated themselves, because the beer was taken away and they were left to sit out the rest of their buzz in the park with the other fans of Steel Reserve and Natural Ice.

Applying this to MY situation - weight loss and getting healthy are much like standing in line for beer (but instead of beer, insert something much better for you). If I jump the line, I'm not going to be doing myself any favors, HOWEVER, by being patient and going with the program - that is, staying in line and doing as I'm told, the payoff will be bigger and I will be rewarded with a smaller pant size and a healthier state of mind. So, it's okay to stand in line because it means you a.) won't be caught stealing shitty beer and b.) you'll get results that will more worth your while.