I wish I had kept my previous fitness assessments from 2007 when I first joined the gym that I’m working out at, now. I remember not seeing a huge difference in my body fat percentage when I had my 3 month checkup at the gym. In fact, I think it went down 0.3%. However, what was great was that I actually lost inches off my butt! Who would have thought I had any fat there! But at that time, I had no idea what I was doing at the gym and was randomly weight training, and doing an immense amount of cardio, it was sickening. I ended up quitting the gym primary because I was boring myself silly and didn’t know what to do.

Finally, I joined the gym again in December 2009 and just started doing structured classes, where I literally didn’t have to think. I just did what the instructor tells us to. It whooped me into shape, and I’m getting in cardio, strength, cycling classes. It’s pretty rad. Honestly, I haven’t really changed my eating habits. I knew this already, but I was told by the Personal Trainer who did my “fitness assessment” that I didn’t need to lose weight. I mean, I’m stick thin as it is, but toning up and getting better endurance with cardio was what I wanted. That, and to have my pants not be tight on my stomach any more.

January 20, 2010:
Weight: 119.4 lbs
Body Fat Percentage: 22.5%
Bust: 33.5 inches
Waist: 28.5 inches (smallest part of waist, so not where my belly button is lol)
Bum/Hips: 37 inches

I had another Fitness Assessment (we get a “free” assessment every 3mths at the gym) on June 14, 2010.

June 14, 2010
Weight: 119.8 lbs (My weight has not changed in 10+ years. Literally. I’m pretty happy about that.)
Body Fat Percentage: 21.8%
Bust: 32.5 inches
Waist: 27.5 inches
Bum/Hips: 36.75 inches

So an easier comparison is some before and afters!

My Vo2 reading has also improved since January. It went from 39 to 41. Not exactly sure what those numbers mean but apparently it’s good. Also I’m pleased to see my body fat percentage went down a bit, but disappointed about my boobies. Maybe it was from the back and not the front? Let’s hope so! I don’t feel as if my jeans or clothing fit any different but I notice that my sides where my waist/belly button is, narrowing up a bit and getting a bit curvier.  For my weight and height the body fat percentage “desirable range” is between 21-33%, right now I’m at the lower end of the spectrum but still feel as though I have unwanted bits of fat in certain areas of my body!

I have been slacking since April with going to boot camp classes and other strengthening classes. It’d be a neat comparison to see what it does to my body if I start going 4x a week again and get my Fitness Assessment re-evaluated again in September!

It’d be interesting to get your take on this, Kelly! I know you wrote about it a while ago, decoding your body fat percentage.

I’ve been on the hunt lately to search for more 5k races to do. My running friend and I have a goal of running a half marathon eventually. I never really considered it until she brought it up to me while we were going out for a jog. Honestly my goal was small, and do a few 5k’s and then graduate to a couple of 10k’s — then who knows what from there. But I think setting a long term goal and accomplishing them together will help us become better/faster runners!

One Friday before my co-ed soccer game we went for a 4.08k out and back loop of what I thought was the race site — but we were on an adjacent road. It’s okay, at least we have another route to run that isn’t exactly the same as we did on Friday. I want to be able to do a 25:00 minute 5km race on the upcoming 5k in 2 days. I’m not sure how realistic that goal is for me right now, but I think we can push each other and step it up. Especially when the horn blows at the beginning of the race, our adrenaline will be through the roof.

I never considered myself to be a runner, until now. I understand how people can become addicted, but at the same time have a love/hate relationship with it. I get that now!

Also? The people who tell me that they cannot run, just haven’t found their running partner yet. I found running so incredibly boring without music, and even then I couldn’t run for that far. You need a running buddy and I definitely found one. She runs at the same pace as me, and we both motivate each other. She finds it difficult to start running at the beginning so I’m all “You can do this! It’s all mental. We’ve practiced for this!” and then towards kilometer #3, I’m all wheezy and swearing under my breath cursing the damn runs, and she’s back at it with the “C’mon we can see the finish line“. It’s all motivation! I don’t like stopping at the beginning, so I’m convincing her to give’r, and she wants to finish strong where as I want to walk and puke —but we don’t let each other stop.

Love it.

So tonight I’m going to do some google–researching and try and find more 5k races in our area! :)

I was totally shaking as I wrote this entry. Madness! I can’t imagine how I’m going to feel on race morning.