EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeanette Balmut has been selected to participate in the Year of You, a fitness challenge hosted by The Manteca Bulletin, CalFit Manteca and CORE Athletic Performance. Balmut is keeping a weekly journal, highlighting the strides and struggles of her fitness journey. These are her thoughts and feelings shared with you.

Day 22-24

The last few days have all been exactly the same. I’ve been doing the same thing. CARDIO. I haven’t been able to train with Antonio in over a week. He has that nasty flu that’s going around so it’s been straight cardio for me. All three days I did a 90-minute workout. I even did a little jogging. I was changing it up throughout the 90 minutes. I would walk with incline at slower pace for 15 minutes then jog for five minutes, then do a fast walk for five, and then start again. I did this for the full 90 minutes. It seemed to go good until today when I think my body might have said “OK, not quite ready for all this bouncing and bouncing.” Everything seemed to hurt when I was done. Not hurt like in a good way, but in an old lady way. Aches and pains! I think tomorrow I will take it a little easier.

The eating is still going good. I am discouraged only because I have not cheated once. I have been so good. No slip ups, no urges, nothing to make the weight stay on … but it’s staying on! I have to keep reminding myself that muscle weighs more than fat AND to just keep it up and it WILL come off. 

Day 25

For years I have been telling people about my “moves.” I can dance! I brag about the dance contests I used to win at 21 years old. Yeah, well, no! I went to my first Zumba class tonight. I can describe it as a butt-kicking, high-intensity workout. And I can describe how I looked as, well, a fish out of water flopping in the sand gasping for air. Needless to say it was not pretty. These girls can bring it. I was so impressed. From the young skinny girls to the older, fluffy girls, dang, talk about moves! They all did so great. I was so impressed. It was a full hour and when I left I was dripping with sweat so I know it did its job. I will definitely attempt it again. Hopefully I won’t look so ridiculous next time. I know my old moves are suppressed and dying to get out. 

Day 26 

It’s Friday; been a long week and a lot of cardio this week. I’m back at it after work. I end up doing a 95-minute cardio. It went superfast because I managed to talk about 50 of those minutes. My aunt joined the gym and tonight was her first night. It was fun having people on either side of me to cut the monotony of staring straight ahead for an hour. I leave the gym knowing that I will be right back in the morning!

Day 27

I got the beautiful flowers for Valentine’s Day and my husband knows not to give me chocolates. I head to the gym and it’s quiet and pretty empty. I get to work and decide today Im going to make it three miles. The goal, of course, is to do that with a high incline and keeping my heart rate at 130. I feel good and accomplished until I get home and hear Mike did nine miles to my three. UGH, so not fair. Oh well its motivating. 

Tonight is our friend’s 25th wedding anniversary. I know there will be appetizers and desserts but I eat a good healthy meal before we leave so that I won’t be tempted. I do end up trying the meatballs and literally a half of a bite of the lemon bars. IT WAS SO WORTH IT! 

Day 28

After getting up and meeting my family for breakfast (I have one scrambled egg, two pieces of bacon and a piece of toast). I head to Costco and go all out. I know I’m not getting enough protein so I buy some protein powder as well as some protein bars. Hopefully I get the right ones that are not too high in calories or the bad stuff. I end up buying all our vegetables, fruits, meats and nuts for the week. It costs SO MUCH to eat healthy. I know it’s worth it, I keep reminding myself.

I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE GYM TODAY. I drag myself in around three in the afternoon. It’s me and about 30 men. Its OK, I’m not as embarrassed as I used to be. I just get to work like I know what I’m doing. I end up talking to one of the regulars at the gym for over an hour. The entire time I am walking and keeping a good pace. He teaches me a lot and suggests I mix things up a bit on the machines. I like the idea and will definitely be trying that tomorrow. 

This is the week I have my first weigh-in since starting this journey. I am not feeling confident at all. It’s been 13 days since I have done anything other than cardio. I am being super faithful on the eating and the cardio but don’t feel like my body has made any changes. I feel a little discouraged but I am constantly reminded that it took 25 years to put the weight on — its not going to come off in 30 days! This is a lifelong change and I need to keep thinking long term not short term. 

Thanks for all the love and support. You have no idea how much it helps and keeps me going.