Laura Lohr | My Beautiful Life » Looks Like I Made It!

Looks Like I Made It!

I completed day five at what I have coined as “The Body by Jake Boot Camp.” I survived the first week of boot camp. Wednesday was the worst. I had the worst pain in my lower body. It hurt to stand, it hurt to sit, it hurt while I was awake, it hurt when I was sleeping, it hurt to go up stairs and down stairs, it hurt to think, and it even hurt to complain. Going down the stairs was worse than going up. I can blame the front lunges, the side lunges, the squats, and leg lifts for that. There was a burning in my thighs like nothing I have ever felt before (and not the cool kind, either).

Each morning, all the seasoned boot campers ask me how I am feeling, whilst flashing a sinister grin. I get the feeling that this group rather enjoys seeing the newbies experiencing the pain and tightness that accompanies the introduction to boot camp. I think the pain is part of the initiation to the boot camp club. I can say with certainty that I have been properly initiated.

On Tuesday, the Coach Jake announced we would be running the mile. It was quite reminiscent of high school, when the coach would announce we were running and the girls were already planning cramps, injury, or just plain ditching. Come Wednesday morning, our group was quite small. Evidently, the mile is not a favorite amongst the group. I, on the other hand, thought there were more deleterious options than running a mile (like doing more front lunges). I was up for the challenge.

We had three laps to run, to make a mile. We started running and four of us shot off from the gate. My goal was to run under ten minutes. Sadly, my running has been a bit spotty over the past few weeks. One girl is super fast and took the lead rather easily. Another girl took off and got a good distance between her and I. I decided to settle in at a pace that I could maintain throughout the run. As we got about a third of the way around the first lap, girl number two started walking. I quickly closed the gap between her and I in my slow and steady pace. As I passed her, she picked up the running again. About 3/4 of the way through the first lap, she began walking again. Once again, I caught up to her, and she began running again. It happened several times before my tired brain realized that we were racing. I finished the first lap at 3:15. I was just were I wanted to be to finish the mile in 9:45.

The race ahead and catching up continued for the full three laps, between girl number two and I. It was really funny. I was enjoying the challenge. I kept thinking that the starting off so fast and stopping, rather than keeping a steady pace had to be harder. Every now and then, she would shoot a glance behind her to see where I was. I was taking pleasure in the mini-race we had going on. I would like to say that I came in under ten minutes, nevertheless, I came in 10:03. Not too shabby, actually. My “race partner” came in a mere two seconds before me. I secretly wondered if she was relieved that she beat the new girl. I came in third. My first week, coming in third—I am okay with that. I think in another month, I will be able to knock it out of the park. I would like to shoot for a 9-ish minute mile next time. Shaving off a minute per mile is not too tough for one mile.

Today, we did more lunges, squats, wall squats, tricep extension, bicycle crunches, leg lifts, shoulder presses, bench dips, push-ups, more running, and BURPEES. I am sure there are more exercises I cannot think of. I usually only recollect the ones that hurt the most.

Burpees are a wretched exercise that summoned painful junior high school memories. I remember when I was in junior high, we would have to do these ridiculous exercises. Having to do them this morning brought back my hatred for this exercise. Who came up with this nonsense?

Don’t know what a Burpee is? Lucky you.

In that one minute, 32 second segment, I was able to accomplish—not as many as her. It was not near as graceful. I am glad it was dark.

I have a theory that the exercises I hate the most are the ones I need to learn to master. If I am able to master them, so goes the theory, therein lies the most progress. I think the exercises I hate the most are the ones I need the most.

My arms are shaky as I type this.

I am struggling with being up at 5:00 a.m. and staying awake all day. Tired. About noon, I am ready for a nap. I do not know how I am going to get better at being up all day. I do not know how people do it. By 8:00 p.m., I am ready to crawl into bed.

I am loving boot camp. Loving it! I am pretty sure I am going to do at least one more round after this month. Tomorrow, I go to my nutrition appointment, where I get my body fat and measurements taken. Ironically, the one day I had to sleep in, I will be at the gym, talking about my fat and the size of my buttocks. I cannot wait to see the changes in my endurance, strength, and inches lost in another month or two. Until then, I will stock up on the Ibuprofen.