Showing posts with label cardio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardio. Show all posts

Friday, March 26, 2010

Fit Mommy Friday



*If you're brand new to my blog or to the Fit Mommy Meme please click here to learn how you can participate. Join the band of merry wives and mothers as we move one step at a time in the direction of health and fitness. :) It's a lot of fun, I promise no one bites, and the encouragement is incredible.*


How goes the battle? Unfortunately, this week was a bit tougher than I'd planned due to a mishap with my baby toe.

Yeah. My baby toe.

Not some gloriously achieved injury whilst engaged in strenuous physical activity. No, I merely rammed my toe into my bedroom door frame around 4:30am. I was in a mad-dash to get my little dog, Fernando outside before he got sick on the carpet. (Yuck) I was racing about, turning off our house's security alarm, yanking the slider door's blinds up, then turned to see that Fernando was still retching in the bedroom doorway. So I shot back down the hall as fast as I could (did I mention we have wood floors? And I was wearing socks?), when suddenly---just as I was bending down to pick up my baby---CRACK!! My toe hit the door frame.

Not the best way to wake up, lemme tell ya!

So my swollen, very sore, very purple toe prevented me from working out (from the waist down) from Wednesday--Thursday. It was all I could do to put a sock or shoe on! Thankfully, I was still able to get some ab and arm work in during that time. :o/

Anyway, it feels much better now and Fernando did make it outside in time. Barely.

So before the incident, I had been doing well. Used the bike a lot, jogged around the neighborhood in the early mornings...(gasping for air like a fish out of water)

You wanna know something I learned? There's a real method to breathing when you run/jog. While I'd heard such a thing existed, I never bothered to pay attention before now. (I'm sure Tracy is having a good laugh at that, aren't you dear? --Wink!) Moving on!

Nutritionally, I totally bombed--hard. My daughter's birthday was last Friday and of course, that means cake. Plenty of scrumptious, mouth watering, carb-a-licious cake! :) I won't even tell you how many pieces I had (because I lost count), but I will say how bad I felt eating each one. Obviously not bad enough NOT to eat them, but bad enough to hop back on the bike for an extra 20 mins or run around the block an extra lap. I'd like to say that made up for my lack of willpower, but...well...I can't. {Sigh}

So it's back to the drawing board this week. The cake is cleared out, my toe is healed up and I have no excuses!

What about you???


Friday, March 19, 2010

Fit Mommy Friday




*If you're brand new to my blog or Fit Mommy and have no clue what I'm talking about, please click here to learn how you can participate in the weekly Fit Mommy meme. Join the band of merry wives and mothers as we move one step at a time in the direction of health and fitness. :) It's a lot of fun, I promise no one here bites, and the encouragement is incredible.*



Yessss!!!!! It feels so good to be back in the saddle, back on the wagon, back in action---however you want to put it--this week! :o)  I think I've finally blown all the "bug dust" off me and feel super-charged, ready to whip myself into shape and get back to work!

Most of the week's workouts consisted of a lot of cardio. I decided to really focus on this after

1. Reading Tracy's posts and
2. The fact that I can only run past 8 houses on my street before I begin to violently gulp huge amounts of air, my lungs and throat burning with angry, icy fire. Oh, and I get a cramp in my side. {Ahem}

Clearly, I'm not in as good of shape as I'd like to think I am! :o/

So I've been hitting that nasty old recumbent bike nestled in the corner (her name is Broomhelga by the way, as it suits her brutish, lumbering style) and jogging around the block. And lots of jumping jacks, jogging in place and (shudder) Jillian's cardio DVD.

I told you she was vicious, right? I'm pretty sure I did.

Nutritionally speaking, I'm doing "okay". Still no junk food (which by this time next week will probably not be the case. A-HEM!!!!), but I'm not eating nearly enough produce. I should change that this week.

So! What have the rest of you gorgeous Fit Mommies been up to?

Friday, February 12, 2010

Fit Mommy Friday



My shoulders, chest and upper back are killing me. Yesterday, I had the genius idea of engaging in a little friendly "girly" pushup competition with fellow Fit Mommies, Mrs. White and Michelle. Thinking I just might be outdone, I decided to really go for it...

Ahem.

I did 90 girly pushups.

Needless to say, I'll be lucky to lift much of anything today. A slice of bread, perhaps? Lifting my arms and washing my hair this morning? Not fun.

But get this. My friend, Nikki did 110 freakin' pushups! And some were even "real" ones--as in the on your toes kind. Can you believe that? Man, and here I thought I was all tough and burly! (LOL) I'm kidding, Nikki. You're not burly by any means. Just in far better shape! :)

Well, now that we've got that little diversion out of the way...! :)

My week went pretty well. Except for that one teensy incident with an apple cobbler. Sigh. Ok, here's my story.

My husband left for the weekend to visit his Grandmother in San Diego. When he returned on Monday, I had a nice supper all planned for him, complete with apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I thought it would be a nice, wifey gesture to welcome him home with such culinary delights. Granted, he was still full from the big lunch that he had, but that didn't stop me. I presented his meal to him with a grand flourish ("Ta dahhhh!"). But to my dismay he didn't burst into applause. Instead he warily eyeballed his plate as if to say, "You seriously expect me to eat all that?" To his credit, he did eat the stuffing. And the veggies.

Feeling slighted, I headed into the kitchen. I was really hoping for confetti, applause..a sash...a crown...a trophy. I sighed heavily, thinking all sorts of sorrowful things when suddenly the apple cobbler stared up at me from the counter. "It'll be ok," it whispered, like the serpent to Eve. "Eat me and you'll feel better."

It was still warm and gooey from oven. And absolutely delicious. (Slurp!) But that was it as far as junk food. Promise! (What? Your food doesn't talk to you like mine?)

Now let's discuss this week's workouts. (Ah, yes. Exercise. The bane of my existence.)

My workouts this week have primarily been focused on the upper body and massive cardio on the bike. I've decided that I'm more than just a little bottom heavy and therefore, should even myself out a bit by focusing on my upper body. You see, dear ones...I'm shaped like a single flower vase. What are those called, anyway? You know what I'm talking about, right? The vase that just big enough for a single rose. Do they even have a specific name? Whatever. I'm shaped like one. All narrow at the top then KERBLAM! once you get to my hips. Joyful, really. Absolutely splendid. Not! I worked out every day this week for at least 45 mins. Woohoo! :)

So that's my week in a nutshell. A rather painful nutshell, if you consider my arms. Which I can't help but consider as they're screaming at me right now. Ugh...

Ok, it's your turn! All you Fit Mommies, it's time to report for duty! :) Sorry, I've always wanted to say that..

1. Michelle Smith @ A Life Better Than I Deserve
2. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level 2)
3. Tracy 3Guys & A Doll
4. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter
5. Homeschool101
6. Tea Time with Annie Kate
7. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
8. Lisa C. @ the Wyldhouse Homestead (Spiritual Fitness)
9. (The Very Bad) Crazy Mom

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Monday, February 1, 2010

This Week's Fit Mommy Goals

Hooray! It's Monday! I actually do mean that, too. :) Today finds me feeling quite zesty. Not sure why. Perhaps it's because I've got a bunch of things to accomplish, which is always better than being bored. I'll be interviewing 2 dancers later this afternoon which is a huge highlight, and this morning's workout left me feeling refreshed and invigorated, as opposed to wiped out and begging for death. :) See? It's a good day all around!

Now, onto this Fit Mommy's goals for the week!

I'm no longer on a chai fast! Hooray! I've switched to the Oregon Chai concentrate which is helping me feel more like myself again. Therefore, I now have to go back to increasing my daily water intake (always a struggle) and keeping to my no junk food goal. This will not be easy, considering how my mother--Lord bless her--deposited a very tasty, very fattening cake on my kitchen counter last night. It's a Snickers cake from the grocery store bakery. Yes, you read that correctly. A "Snickers" cake as in a fiendishly wicked, chocolatey-caramel temptation, just begging to be eaten in one fell swoop! :o/  Hopefully I have at least some will power in me. I'll let you know on Friday.

My workout goals are changing a bit this week. I'm back to The Firm tapes as I was hungry for my weights again. I plan on using one Firm tape per day, plus Jillian's cardio DVD 3 x this week, plus 2 sessions on the bike. Cardio, cardio, cardio! Oh, how I hate cardio! :-p

If you'd like to join the rest of us insane Fit Mommies, you're more than welcome to! Simply post your weekly goals on your blog. Then on Friday, write another post telling us all how you did and sign the Mr. Linky. This will be found under my Friday post. :) That's all there is to it!

See you Friday!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Fit Mommy Friday




We've made it through another week, ladies! Woohoo! :)

I don't know about you, but I feel a lot better about sharing this week than I did last time. For one thing, I've been able to keep to my chai-fast and have avoided junk food 90% of the week, with the exception of last night.

Yes, I know. "Lucy? You've got some 'splainin' to dooo!"

Well, everything was going great until right before we had to leave for ballet. I made the kids a cheese pizza and some mini tacos to snack on. Now, I didn't eat the pizza. That part was fine. However, I did eat about 5 mini tacos. Five baked-but-still-greasy, frozen food, mini chicken tacos. Yeeaah. Not one of my finer moments. But man, were they ever good! ;o) (Did I say that?)

Then after ballet, I made supper consisting of breaded baked chicken and pesto bread with mozzerella and tomatoes, all from Trader Joe's. Again, not the healthiest fare but still quite yummy. Apparently, I had a hankering for cheese after avoiding dairy (in the form of chai) all week, because I ate 3 slices of pesto bread. Ahem. I also sneaked 2 more mini tacos that were left over. (Shhh...!)

However, I did a lot better with my week's workout goals. Everyday found me doing something--a Jillian or Firm workout, or else peddling like a madwoman on the bike. :) Hooray! My thighs seem to be in a state of perpetual mutany, but that's ok. It's good for them.

On Monday, The Troll began spouting vicious rumors. It registered a slight weight gain. (Gasp!) I threatened The Troll with a slow, torturous death should it ever talk back to me like that again. (What? Doesn't everyone name their bathroom scale?) It regained its senses and redeemed itself on Thursday morning. However, I haven't visited The Troll since then (remember all those tacos!). I figure it's best we avoid each other for the time being. I'm hoping the adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" will hold true in this case.

Last but not least, I'm sharing a few links I've used over the years to help me track my progress. Now, with the body fat calculator--please don't take this as being 100% accurate. It's only an estimate. To get a really accurate reading, I recommend visiting either a local gym or your doctor's office. However, for home users to get a rough idea of where they are, it's good. :)

Calories Per Hour

Am I Fat? (Yeah, I know. The name doesn't thrill me either.)

Calorie Restriction Calculator (scroll down, enter your info, and get ready for several results)

Weights.Net (Also calculates your one-rep maximum)

Ideal Weight Calculators

So there you have 'em. Now, onto the part you've all been waiting for! It's time to share your week with the rest of us. :) Sign the Mr. Linky below and let's this party started! (Yes, I've had lots of green tea already. Sorry.)

1. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level Two)
2. Katrina @ Mama Manuscripts (fit pregnancy)
3. Heidi (Reviews & Reflections)
4. homeschool101
5. Lisa @ The Wyldhouse Homestead
6. The Crazy Mom
7. Tracy
8. kathy @Stewards steno
9. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter
10. Heather@ Faith, Family and Fun
11. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
12. Danielle

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Fit Mommy Friday




Iiiiiiiit's FRIDAY! Fellow Fit Mommies, you know what that means!

This week was actually a bit difficult for me. Nutritionally, I totally blew Wednesday's "health streak" with several handfuls of Fritos (which I'm sure I'll pay for that in the form of swelling up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon).

Now, I'm  not usually a chip eater with the exception of eating out at Mexican restaurants. But in my defense, I haven't had Fritos in *years*. (I used to eat them almost religiously when I was a teenager!) But then Dean bought 2 bags at the store (buy 1, get 1 free), so we ate chips and sandwiches for dinner.

I told myself I'd only have ONE chip...but then...

Oh.my.goodness! That one Frito was sooooo good!

I soon found myself grabbing handful after handful of crispy, salty love. (I am truly pathetic.)

However, that was the only culinary indulgence I engaged in this week, so I guess that's not too bad in the grand scheme of things. (I'll give you my official answer once the bloating sets in.)

Anyway, in workout news I did pretty well. So well in fact, that I'm still sore today following Wednesday's and Thursday's vicious plank circuits. (Thank you, Jillian Michaels...) Anyone else torture themselves with those? Not necessarily Jillian Michaels' routines but planks in general? Because seriously, my obliques and hips are killing me just sitting here! I also had the privilage of "feeling it" in my abs when I sneezed earlier. Yeah...good times! LOL

But it's a "good" kind of pain. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Not so sure I'll perform the same circuit back to back next week (or ever!) but I enjoyed it at the time. :)

Next week, I plan to use a Firm tape at least once during the week, in addition to the Jillian workouts. Perhaps then I won't be in so much agony. I also vow to step away from the Fritos. This should be easy, considering what's left in the bag probably won't last through the weekend, and they're no longer on sale.

Wait! I almost forgot! I read this great Q & A and thought I'd share it with all of you. It's about effectively resetting your metabolism after years of yoyo or crash dieting. Click here to read more.

So, how about you? What challenges and successes has your week delivered? Sign the Mr. Linky below to share your thoughts! :)


1. Katrina @ Mama Manuscripts (fit pregnancy)
2. Michelle Smith @ A Life Better Than I Deserve (Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris)
3. Danielle @ Rocks at my feet
4. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter
5. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level Two)
6. Heidi (Reviews & Reflections)
7. Lisa C. @ the Wyldhouse Homestead (Eating Healthy on the Road)
8. homeschool101
9. Heather @ Faith, Family and Fun
10. Tea Time With Annie Kate
11. kathy @Stewards steno
12. Lori@Not-So-Superwoman
13. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
14. Tracy 3Guys & A Doll

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Monday, January 11, 2010

Fit Mommy Goals for the Week



My goals for this week aren't very different from last week's. I'd like to add more cardio (this time going for 2 additional rounds on the bike instead of 1) for 30 mins each session and continue with the zero junk food which is oh-so-hard for me. I'm truly a girl who loves her carbs!

But I figure if I can avoid junk food over the next 30 days, I'll have reached a serious milestone! LOL :)

Then once I succeed, I'll be rewarding myself with a huge slab of chocolate cake that's oozing with caloric decadence.

Kidding.

This week may prove especially tough as I feel as though I'm coming down with my husband's cold bug. (Charming) However, I'm determined to do all I can to make it to Friday's official "success" post. Sometimes sheer will power is just what the doctor ordered!

For a bit of additional encouragement and motivation, I'm sharing a link to an interesting article that explains the connection between stress and weight gain. (Emotional eating, anyone? Yeah. Me, too.) I found the info especially timely and thought perhaps others would as well.

*Fit Mommy participants, be sure to post your goals for the week if you haven't already done so. :) *

Monday, January 4, 2010

Fit Mommy Goals for the Week

Well, now that the Fit Mommy Meme's up 'n running, I'd better hop to it and post my goals for the week! :)


Fitness: Complete 1 of my new Jillian Michaels dvd's (O-U-C-H) per day and incorporate 1 additional cardio session this week. (Did I mention how much I hate cardio?)

Nutritionally Speaking: I plan to avoid all junk food (including--ok, most especially--the fresh slab of fudge sitting on my kitchen counter) and take my supplements each day. (Which is something I often forget to do.) I'm also going to up my water intake because I usually only drink it mixed with chai or post-workout. But then it's only like 1/2 a cup.

Ok! There you have it! I'll post an update on Friday. :)

If you'd like to join me and my fellow Fit Mommies, please click here.

Fit Mommy Meme




*** Fit Mommy Friday has been moved to Vintage Healthy Home. ***

'Tis the New Year and with it come all sorts of resolutions to get fit, lose weight and get healthy!

To help keep us all encouraged and accountable, I've devised (with help from a dear friend) a fun weekly meme that I hope you'll enjoy. It's called Fit Mommy Friday and here's how it works:

  • First, choose your level of participation and plan your weekly goals. This is entirely up to you, but should be based on your personal fitness goals and overall condition. (Example: If you've never walked the length of your block, your goal should NOT be a 2 mile run by Friday.)
Level One: The Beginner level. This is for those of you who are brand new to exercise or for those who are not already participating in a consistent fitness program. Your goal should include at least 1 mild form of exercise per day (walking, low impact cardio) as well as one nutritional goal; drinking 8 glasses of water per day, keeping a food journal, eating a small salad with dinner, no chocolate for the week (did I say that?), etc.

Level Two: The Intermediate level. This level is for those who are already exercising at least 3 times per week on a regular basis. Goals here might include one additional 20-30 min workout each day/week, or incorporating a new exercise or tool (kettle bells, stability ball, bands, dumbbells) into your fitness routine, etc. It should also include some sort of nutritional goal.

Level Three: Advanced Level. This level is for those of you who consistently workout 5-6 days + per week for 45-60 mins each time. (The crazy ones. *Grins*) Goals at this level might include extending your cardio sessions by a few minutes, adding heavier weights, training for a marathon, etc. As with the other two levels, you should also shoot for a nutritional goal as well.
  • Next, post your goals to your blog. Be as specific as you care to be, but put it out there. It will help make your goals feel more concrete. This can be done during your Friday "Fit Mommy" post (see below).
  • Invite your friends to participate! After all, misery loves company we could all use the encouragement! Having the support of your friends and family is a great way to keep yourself motivated and accountable. :)
  • Work on reaching your goals each day. And remember, there's no shame if you mess up here 'n there! It's all a learning process, especially in the beginning. Don't beat yourself up!
  • On Friday, write your success stories along with your personal goals for next week, then sign the Fit Mommy Mr. Linky (which will be posted on Friday). That way everyone can bunny-hop over to your blog, leave a nice note of encouragement, etc. Remember, even if you weren't 100% perfect all week, there's no shame allowed, whatsoever. Simply dust yourself off and keep going!
  • The process begins all over again the following week! :)

To help get your inspirational juices flowing, I've provided a list of links that'll help kick start your Fit Mommy Goals!

Spark People.com Free website offering diet and fitness information, calorie counters, food journals, workout buddies and more! Great accountability tool! (And did I mention it's all free?)

Exercise TV Features free workout videos, free downloadable workout plans and more.

The Biggest Loser The official home of one of TV's most popular reality series.

My Trainer Bob.com Biggest Loser trainer, Bob Harper. Free registration/membership; offers fun Fitness Challenge of the Day, helpful information and tons of encouragement.

Jillian Michaels.com Fiercest Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels. Offer free e-newsletter which is always informative and inspiring and paid weight loss plan.

Collage Video Hundreds of workout videos, complete with clips and user reviews.

Fitness Magazine Offers free workout videos, articles, advice and more.

The FIRM These babies started my obsession back in high school. (Yes, they're that old.) See if you can locate these tapes/dvd's through your local library. They are by far one of the best workout series ever created!

For those with Verizon FIOS or Comcast Cable: There are free workouts available for you to access any time, courtesy of the OnDemand feature. These are presented by Exercise TV and contain several popular titles including Jillian Michaels, Biggest Loser, The FIRM and more.


On a Personal Note:
I'm a former ballet dancer in training, yet fell off the proverbial fitness wagon after back-to-back babies # 2-3. After a heavy dose of reality (full length mirror), I was determined to get back into semi-decent shape. Although I'm nowhere near as small as I was during my "ballerina" years, I feel proud of what I've accomplished. Most days anyway. Should God miraculously give me 32 inch hips, I totally wouldn't complain. Just sayin'.




Official Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any sort of medical professional (although I happen to play one on TV. Just kidding). My suggestions should in no way be construed as medical advice.

I am not liable or otherwise responsible for any injury, pain, discomfort, profuse sweating, frustration, etc. that may result from your partipation in the Fit Mommy Meme or the exercise/nutritional suggestions therein.

Prior to beginning this or any other exercise routine, you should consult with your doctor. Likewise, do not make changes to your diet without the advice of a qualified nutritional expert. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Discoveries--The Good and the Disturbing

My little corner of the world is still very dark and quiet. The children are still snoozing away (Oh, the joys of being homeschooled!), Dean's off at work, my workout is finished, and now it's time to get some computer work done before the troops emerge.


Today's workout only consisted of a 30 minute ab routine. (Big whoop, right?) Yesterday I did a 55 min. tape plus an additional 20 mins on my bike. That doesn't sound too bad--in theory. However, I was going for a full 30 mins on the bike but wimped out. :) Oh well. So today I decided to focus on my jelly-belly and maybe do a cardio routine later on. We'll see. A friend of mine and I are keeping each other accountable in this area. Granted, our consistency isn't as it should be, but we're trying--we're making the most out of every day--and that's all that matters.

Guess what? Ethan's discovered a new hobby. Thanks to a homeschool class at Games Workshop, he's fallen in love with the whole Lord of the Rings model/game-making/role-playing thing.

When I first told Dean about it he was shocked and said, "What? He can't do that!" "Why not?" "Because we used to make fun of those nerds back when I was in school!" (Oh brother!)

My son is certainly not a nerd. At least not in his Mommy's opinion. I love how he's found a new passion (outside of video games) and am more than willing to encourage his endeavors. Thanks to my friend Rachel, Ethan is taking their "Academy Class" once a month w/ his buddy, Nathan. This was their birthday gift to Ethan. Wasn't that sweet?! Ethan totally loves it! He's made 4 characters so far and can hardly wait for the next class.


Oh and for the record--once Dean saw everything that came in Ethan's starter kit and all the detail that goes into painting these little things--he now thinks the activity is pretty cool. :) One more thing; Rachel and I've noticed how this can quickly become a rather expensive hobby. (Ahem) But we've both decided that we'd help our sons get started but after that---they're on their own!

Moving on!

I've discovered two new things about myself.
  1. My chai habit's getting cheaper. Sort of. I can no longer drink The Good Stuff without it irritating my stomach. I switched from The Good Stuff to the Close Second Stuff, but even that's bothering me now too. So I've moved onto the Not So Bad Once You Get Used to It. (*Sigh*) So unfair...

   2.   I find myself "forgetting" things quite often. Much more than before. Perhaps I'm just taking after my mother and sister. (No offense you two.) But I've always been a disciplined, structured, list-making person. Still am, really. But even if I write a task down, I'll still forget. Even if I just read it! Or worse, I'll forget to write it down in the first place.

Last week, I forgot to do something crucial for Dean and while it isn't earth-shattering (or ending), the ramifications are going to be a pain to deal with. I also forgot when Ethan's Academy class was to take place and had to email Rachel (repeatedly).

I also forgot to take the trash cans out to the curb for pick up, do all the laundry (figure that one out!), and forgot to do school among other things. ("Gee, you kids sure have a lot of time on your hands today...hmm...")

This is so hard for me because *I'm not supposed to forget*. I'm the one who "never" forgets even small details like birthdays. But I forgot to phone my brother in law on his birthday. I knew it was his birthday earlier in the day, but then I decided to call in the evening, then later forgot. By the time I remembered, it was too late to call with the 3 hr time difference.

Then I forgot my son's birthday was coming up until the moment he walked up to me and said, "Mom guess what? My birthday's a week away!" (Blink) In my defense, his birthday plans did coincide with my Uncle Bret's passing, so I'm using that as an excuse. In fact when Ethan reminded me, I was in the middle of making the DVD presentation for Uncle's service.

I then forgot to invite people until 3 days before the party. Then realized I forgot to invite everyone I was supposed to. (Not good.)

Then to make matters worse, I kept forgetting Sierra's birthday. Or rather, kept forgetting to make plans for it until the last minute.

I forget what I've written down, what I've done, and what I still need to do. It's downright scary sometimes, especially when I consider that my Grandmother--who was like my mother and sister--now has Alzheimer's. (Gulp) My mother says she has "Half-Heimer's". Hmm. Maybe I've got Quarter Heimer's?





Is this just an age thing or a family thing? Guess we'll have to wait 'n see! (But by then, I'll forget what I'm waiting for...) 

Friday, November 21, 2008

Time to Ramp It Up...Again...

I've been in a workout slump for the past several weeks. I've been babying myself, going really easy and light. (A few squats here, a set of lunges there; maybe toss a few overhead presses in for good measure.)

Then I caught sight of my rear in the bathroom mirror on the way into the shower...

(Deep shudder...)

So, here I am announcing to the world that I am officially getting up off my fanny, and once again taking my workouts seriously.

It's amazing how prone I am to laziness and procrastination. (If "amazing" can be synonymous with "disgusting".)

Sure, I walk to and fro everywhere, but that's not enough. My muscle definition's getting a bit harder to see and I don't like that--not one bit. I've worked too hard to get it, and sitting back watching it disappear is inexcusable.

Yesterday, I worked out for a whopping 25 mins and called it good. (Only because after 20 mins I thought I was going to die from hyperventilation, due to my out-of-shapeness. I gave it another 5 mins just to prove I wouldn't.)

So after Dean left this morning, I decided I needed some motivation. I grabbed my old stack of exercise magazines from the cupboard and pawed through them, taking note of little things like form, reps, supplements.

Once that got me good 'n amped, I hopped on the recumbent bike and pedalled my way through a nice, drippy, sweaty 30 mins. Then I followed that up with squats (3 sets/15 reps). Not too bad for 6am.

Ha! Take that, Lazy Girl! ;o)

So, my dear friends...please hold me accountable. I'm granting you permission. Enjoy it.