As I mentioned on Friday, this weekend was my first shot at real Pilates. The studio is just down the street from my apartment, so I decided that I should just quit procrastinating and try it out. I prepared for my early morning Pilates class by drinking an entire bottle of red wine on Friday night. I’m not even sure how it happened. I was just relaxing and watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and all of a sudden I had a strong desire for wine. I have no idea why.
(source)
It was one of those things where you go back for a third glass and you find an empty bottle. Bardot probably drank it. Little lush.
Anyway, I didn’t start Saturday off on the right foot. I felt awful, so I did my best to get re-hydrated before the class and tried not to puke.
I had a private lesson because I’ve never done Pilates before and it’s a little bit complicated. The instructor was great and she was very patient with demonstrating what we were about to do multiple times for me. As it turns out, when something requires more than three movements, I completely forget what I’m doing after each set. I think I did okay even though I realized that my arms and core are still pretty much useless. The machine wasn’t nearly as scary as I had anticipated, but I was completely freaked out by this move:
I’m still not sure how it happened, but somehow my abs brought my legs up and I didn’t fall over the front of the box. I was shaking I was so nervous, it was completely disorienting to be leaning forward while partially inverted like that. Despite the fear, I really enjoyed the class a lot. It has the benefits I wanted from yoga (flexibility, range of motion, and core strength), but without the mind-numbing boredom.
I’ll have to do several more solo classes before I can join the small group (2-3 people) classes, but it’s super expensive so I will only be able to do one a week. Once I’m done with the private lessons, I can do at least two each week because the group sessions are less than half the cost (though still quite pricey). I figure that since the price I pay to use my university rec center is so miniscule that it wouldn’t kill me to invest in something that should really help my arthritis, flexibility, and squishy mid-section (and yes, I realize that what you eat plays a significant role in getting rid of the rolls).
I spent Saturday afternoon organizing my massive collection of random cords for miscellaneous electronics and watching The Americans.
It was sooooo good. I cannot wait until Wednesday night. I also have a bit of a crush now on Matthew Rhys, even with those awful jeans he has to wear.
Anyway, super excited about that show. On Sunday I woke up and couldn’t sit up because my abdomen was on fire. Every last square inch of muscle was in pain. Even all the way up to my sternum, I didn’t even know you could really move that enough to make it sore.
I needed to lift weights on Sunday, so I spent about two hours talking myself into it before I actually got my body out the door. I did some deadlifting, squats, kettlebell progressions, and ran four miles (with walking of course). Did you see SNL this weekend? They summed it up pretty well (start at the 46 second mark):
Pretty much. I’m so hardcore.
Other than that, I did pretty much nothing else except clean my apartment and read. Things are pretty thrilling over here.
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Every time I watch Cougar Town I want a glass of wine. Also, whenever I watch Mad Men I want a cigarette even though I’ve never smoked. I think there is something to “marketing” or whatever its called. I guess it also explains why every time I see a potato chip commercial (especially the Lay’s one with the woman with the cute haircut) I want a potato chip….now I know what I’m having for a morning snack.
Hahaha Cougar Town does that too me too. Clever clever. Enjoy your morning chips!
I still want to watch The Following but can’t see paying $1.99 an episode to catch up.
The Kidless Kronicles
I love Pilates! It’s definitely my favorite form of exercise right now! Way less boring than yoga ;)
Looking forward to hearing more about your Pilates adventures!
1. I could totally make the cover of “Good Enough” magazine. Totally.
2. LMAO about the 30% increase in births in July. Well I don’t have a storm to blame it on… but I have considered naming my daughter “Whiskey”…
DUDE. All that pilates equipment is somehow much more frightening to me than any CrossFit WOD I’ve ever done…ever.
Also, cheers (with liquor, I *gasp* don’t enjoy wine) to switching up the workout regimen & trying new things!
I will be returning to CF soon because 1. I miss it & 2. the regular gym I’ve been going to, although much cheaper, has a female trainer that reallllllllly likes to touch other females without being invited to do so. And my personal bubble is precious.
There’s something to be said for food/drink marketing on tv. Even though I hate to say, every time I accidentally watch Kar-trash-ian’s, I end up wanting to eat some form of junk they’re eating all slow & lethargic like, picking at it the entire time. Strange! Good work on the pilates, it’s tough!
My parents probably got a letter like that…
I really want to watch The Americans. I love spy shows, so I should probably get on that.
Ahh – so glad you liked The Americans! Man, Keri Russell is so bad ass and cold. I just want to hug Phillip every episode and tell him that even if Elizabeth don’t love him, I do.
It makes me laugh when you talk about your work out sessions. You always have something happen…like jump roping.
Too funny! Every time I watch Bachelor I end up drinking way more wine than I anticipated.. but it’s a two hour show, give me a break over here. I need it just to get through the craziness :)
Haha. So glad I’m not the only one! I feel like I am conditioned…Real Housewives comes on, I walk towards the wine rack….
Ahh I just watched the Americans this weekend too and I’m OBSESSED! I literally watched all the episodes on Hulu one after another (clearly the sign of a cool person who doesn’t have plans on the weekend…ha) and I’m so excited for the next episode!
Nice! Good for you for getting out there and trying something new. The reformer stuff always intimidates me too, I don’t want to need so much equipment to work my core. But it is very effective.
Have you tried looking for SPX pilates classes in your area? They’re reformer based and taught in groups of 8-12, depending on the gym. I LOVE the workout and feel that I still get plenty of form correction tips (maybe too many…). I love the workout though and feel super strong without bulking up. It may be significantly cheaper than private classes although there may be a difference between Texas prices and San Diego prices!
The town I live in is pretty small comparatively. This is the only Pilates studio in town. I am actually kind of shocked we even have one!
What a productive weekend – way to exercise on a Saturday AND a Sunday, overachiever!
I would love to try out one of those pilates classes with the machine (is it called a Reformer?), but yes it’s super pricey and I’m cheap… Was it awkward at all being trained one-on-one with the instructor?
I, too, drank more than I needed Friday night (mother-in-law kept feeding me wine) only to wake grumpily for my 9 hour yoga seminar Sat. morning – bleh.
I thought it would be extremely awkward, but it was kind of nice. I didn’t feel like an idiot because other people knew what they were doing and I was just flailing about like a spaz. If I could afford it, I would probably prefer one on one from now on in every type of exercise. And that 9 hours of hung over yoga sounds awful. Awful!
Reading all your comments just made me feel sad. What ever happened to over indulging in wine, waking up early only to chug a gallon of water then return back to your comfy bed. I think I’m the over achiever or the over indulger but who’s judging. ;)
P.s. Cely– It was a successful Pizza free weekend. Only 25 days to go, and yes I may have a count down on my phone.
Congratulations! That’s a major accomplishment. Wish I could say the same. But you are a beast!
Everything makes me want wine. Wine makes me want wine.
Holy geeze when core gets really worked is it unbearable. I feel for you. The first time we did “ab pyramid” at boot camp, it was very difficult to even bend over. I did not know the sternum could hurt, either.
Well done!
This post is so funny. Keep up the good work!