A good workout week

Look at last week....

I am patting myself on the back.  I did really well!

I almost did a yoga work out on Sunday to have every day marked, but ended up just saying forget it & enjoyed a evening on the couch knitting a cowl.  #oldladystatus

I love how much stronger I am feeling with the workouts.

I even upp'ed my weights to 7 lbs for the Upper Body Fix... & felt good with it.
I do always have to watch my shoulder & know which exercises I need to be careful with & maybe go down to 5 lbs for that arm, but I love the feeling of progress.

It has been so warm this past week too & I almost scraped the #fixmas thing happening to get outside & get in some walks or runs.... I just hate that its so dark by the time I get home & get changed.  By the time I got to a location to work out, it'd be dark.  That's depressing.  So, I stick with the plan.  That's OK.

I will admit - I have been slouching on the nutrition a bit with Christmas candy being EVERY WHERE in my house. I need to hide it.  Or tell the hubs to hurry & eat it all.  Its so easy to just pop in a little mini Reese's cup... a few times a day. UGH!  That adds up.  & I have my year end goal.

I need to dig in deep for self control. I can ignore the candy. I can...

I will.

So are you doing good working out during the Holiday season?

Any struggles with the Holiday Candy & yummies around?

{DL} I blame Jane Fonda....

Monday ... it was rainy & cold.  The way Monday should look actually.

I was excited to see what my workout called for in his new Hybrid T25/P90X3 series.  Every day is something new & a new way to work my body...

& Monday was about P90X3 Dynamix

I hadn't ever done this video before so I was excited to see what it was.

YAWNNNNNN

No, they're not sleeping - they are actually working out.

I have to say, this whole "not blowing your heart out cardio" is new for me.

I always felt like working out meant getting the heart pumping, the blood flowing.  Why bother if you aren't going to burn any calories.

I blame Jane Fonda & her leg warmers & the unitard.  Yes, I have those workouts - totally on VHS tapes... & they still are fun to do every now & then.

Talk about a #ThrowbackThursday!

I think one Thursday, we need to start a movement to do 80's workout videos.

y'all... I totally have this video & even can hum the song they are doing this too

OK - I got side tracked here...

But I have to say, these workouts & most of the Beachbody programs, they have these workouts in the middle of them.  Workouts that are about stretching the body, working on conditioning moves more then cardio based moves.  Pilates.  Yoga. Ones like this that you do a lot of moves on the floor where my heart rate doesn't even get out of the range that it does when I'm watching TV.

But, I'm learning that this is part of building a stronger body.

It's taking me a bit to learn this... & I still have a mini panic attack when I hit my Polar at the end of it & see I only burned 160 calories in 30 minutes ... but again, my goal is to have no pain - stronger knees - no issues with my back.  To get this, its going to take some full body work - including stretches & conditioning. 

Its OK if my calorie count isn't out of the roof - right?

I mean, if you eat healthy during a day anyways, its not going to hurt you to take care of the body more then pound on the joints & jump & burpee away for a day.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.

We shall see.

Just call me Cardio Girl.

OK - I just googled "Cardio Girl" & there's T-shirts already made
... you really can find anything on the internet...

I should be on the show The Originals

OK... am I the only 40-something person that still fan girls over these things?

Yep, I started off as a Vampire Diaries gal - which I still watch faithfully -#TeamDamon #always - & when The Originals came on, I was hooked on that as well.  Because as much as I love Damon, I am more of a Elijah type of girl. 

#TeamElijah #foreverandalways

What the heck am I even talking about?

Well, on The Originals, one of the original vampires is 'special' - he's a hybrid.  He's both a vampire & a werewolf.  Told you - special.

But that's all I keep thinking of now since I started my new workout program that is going to take me through 2015.

I found on Pinterest a hybrid of a program that alternates P90X3 & T25 for 12 weeks....

Pinterest - the place where you can find pretty much anything.

This will take me right through the time till I need to start my next half marathon training.

I think it will be good for my knees to get a break ... & of course, it is always helpful to build some strength & muscles & get a little more toned up.

I'm excited about it....

something new - something to work the body differently - a plan.

I like a good plan.  I NEED a plan in my life.  My days laid out for me.

& who knows - maybe it will make me feel as tough as a vampire and werewolf combined ....

I just cant make myself like it....

Oh gosh y'all...

I tried...

once again.

What in the world am I talking about?

Piyo

Except this body has a bad shoulder & I will basically cry in extreme pain doing this move

The amazing workout program that I see a lot of people talking about - the workout that combines Pilates & Yoga.

First, let me once again reinforce my struggle with Yoga.

I just can't make myself like it.

I WANT to like it.

I know my body needs to stretch & I know I have kinks I need to work out.

But with this stupid sucky bicep tendonitis, it totally kills me to do hold all my weight on my arms to do these holds ... & I can't handle the repetitive sun salutations over & over. 

Just punch me in the face instead.

I will say, I do like Pilates. I like the ab work on that.  Strong core - I'm all about that.

So yesterday, I found a hybrid sheet that combines T25 with Piyo & thought, this may be something I need to challenge myself with.  Get the cardio of T25 & then try the full body workout of Piyo.... I printed out the schedule, pinned it to my cork board & put in the first DVD that started with Piyo Sweat.

I was 15 minutes in & I was MISERABLE!!!

I even said out loud, "I cant make myself do this anymore"... & popped it out & put in P90X3

(I also found a hybrid of P90X3 & T25)

I don't feel like I'm giving up on a workout - I just know its not for me.

Just like I want the world to love kickboxing... not everyone is going to love it.

It's good to see there are options for everyone out there - right? 

Not everything is black & white... no one is going to agree on everything

I just know I don't want to be bored out of my mind & making my BT any worse then it already is...

Piyo - back into the back of the cabinet you shall go...

Les Mills Combat ... week 7

Only 2 more weeks to go....

Week 7 had me sort of blah... & that's weird because I really like Les Mills but I was just so busy with so much going on.

Wedding pictures, errands to run, getting emotionally run down ...

But I started off Monday - Wednesday doing the usual routines.  I've now gone through all the videos so its just on repeat... that's OK ... I love these videos.

But Thursday, I was on for a 60 minute work out but I wanted to cut the grass for my husband who walked 18 miles at work ... 18 MILES... the day before, he did 15 miles... the day before that, he did 16 miles...

he'd laugh at a marathon....

But his legs were shot, so I just did a 30 minute video instead & then cut grass for 35 minutes... balances... right?

& then this was the first weekend in all 7 weeks I missed my weekend workout.

Dang it.

It's not like I did it out of sheer lazy.

I had an early morning photo session & then I had an eye appointment at 2:30 & then I had to run out & get Mother's Day gifts for my momma. 

Nothing like waiting till the last minute.

But it was evening by the time I got home & I was just ready to relax & work on pictures ...

So this is probably my most failed week so far...

Maybe not... this next weekend, I already have all day plans so I may finish the program like a fizzled out firework... this is actually the last weekend of the plan. It finishes on a Thursday (technically Friday, but I change my rest days so it will be my Thursday)...

Oh well... its not like I'm eating bon bons & not moving...

But another week marked off on my calendar.

I'm ready to do some punches & kicks tonight - that's for sure!

 

How was your weekend?

 

How did you get your sweat on?

Les Mills Combat - week 5

5 weeks down....

I am over half way in the program.  Yahhoo!!!!

What did week 5 look like?

Well, it was basically cardio cardio & cardio.

It had none of the High Intensity Interval Training in it this week.  It was 45 - 60 minutes of kick boxing every day.

I'm good with that.

That means no Burpees!!!

And I did trade out my weekend Les Mills for my 10k.... the weekend workout was only the 30 minute video so I say this was a better trade off then what was called for.

I will say, I am a little frustrated that we are half way through & I'm supposed to be seeing some results.  I am, embarrassingly, the highest weight I have ever been in my life. 

Hanging head in shame.

I'm not seeing the definition that they said I would see in my arms & abs.

Hanging head lower in shame.



I will say, my flexibility & my kicks are improving though.

& I will say, I'm enjoying my workouts.

But I want results.... sigh....

I'm trying not to give up.

I mean, I know the results are a little thwarted with Easter & Cadbury Egg season.

DANG YOU CADBURY EGGS!!!!

So I'm really trying to focus on nutrition with the program the last 4 weeks.

I'll be happy with ANY result... I NEED some sort of result.

My motivation is sagging. 
My spirits are turning into despair.
I need some sort of return on the investment I'm putting into myself.

I don't think that's too much to ask....

I say it all the time... I truly mean it more then ever now... I'm still Pressing On!!!

Week 4 Les Mills Combat... with a 5k thrown in

I can't believe I've been doing this thing for 4 weeks now... a full month..

& the cool thing? I'm still LOVING IT!!!

It's still enjoyable to me.

Maybe I just have a lot of pent up anger at the end of every day & want to do the punches & kicks to get it out of my system.

That would make sense.

There was 1 new workout in there this week.

A new Plyo High Intensity Interval Training work out.

HOLY COW.

I have a love hate relationship with it.  That's for sure.

I still am seeing no progress in my Burpees... & I still hate them.

Y'all that do them - just imagine if your shoulder was injured & it hurt to put any weight on it, much less all the body weight  & jumping that body weight around too. It sucks.

I keep pressing on though.

I did switch one thing up this weekend.  Instead of doing the interval training on Saturday, I decided to go for a walk. 

It was beautiful out & I hadn't been on the hills of my street in MONTHS.

Oh my goodness....

My butt & shins reminded me what hill training feels like.

It honestly was the slowest 5k in the history of 5k's... but I just wanted to enjoy the beautiful day, the spring air & just moving differently.  I'm fine with it.

So another week down.

& I'm still doing the Bootycalls... I did 4 days last week (slept in on Friday) & already got my ab work out in this morning at 5:30am....

No one can't say I don't try....

Week 3 of Les Mills Combat

Done with 3 weeks. 

That's gone by fast. 

1/3 of the way done

I always like getting out of week 2 of any Beachbody workout because it's typically the same workout as week 1... I'm not a fan of repetition.

I once quit a Jazzercise class that I had gone to for 18 years because they got a new instructor & she would do the SAME freakin' routine every day of every week for a month.  I just wanted to punch myself in the face.

So yeah, needless to say, routine doesn't work for me in working out.

Week 3 was a change... & added in 2 new different work outs.

One - a new 60 minute work out.  Yazzhhaaa!  60 minutes of punching & kicking. Whew. It's a workout.

Especially when your computer just decides to reboot in the middle of it & you cant find your spot, so you just start all over again... making it at 90 minute workout.

#GoMe

& the other new workout is a Plyo workout.

God, I hate jumping.
I also hate burpees.

But luckily this video is only 30 minutes & I've learned that 30 minutes goes by in a blink.

I'm still actually loving this workout & haven't missed one day of the plan.

Am I seeing these amazing results that I'm supposed to be seeing about now?

No...

Thanks Cadbury Eggs.  It's all your fault.

But today's a new day... & we're heading into week 4. I have a new mind set going into it - I am still doing Bootycalls, even doing 10 minute workouts every morning for them... I'm ready to get the whole package deal together in my life.

I'm ready to kick a little butt!

I'm starting to do Booty Calls....

Oh wow...

that title sounds really bad, doesn't it?

I didn't come up with the word "Bootycall" ... especially in this format.

Let me explain myself before my husband's eyes bug out of his head wondering what I'm even talking about.

Some of you may already know.

I have been following the girls from Tone It Up for awhile. 

Look at these girls!

Seeing them on Instagram, seeing a lot of the people I follow do their challenges & plans & I got an email showing they are starting a new Bikini Series coming up next week.

I was intrigued about them & started looking deeper into it.

First, I saw they offer a nutrition plan, even in vegetarian, vegan & pescetarian- but the recipe guide costs $150.... WHAT? And you have to print it out yourself, soaking up every last bit of ink you have in a printer... & I read that its basically just a clean eating sort of plan anyways - so I'll skip that....

& I was looking at the work outs they provide & recommend every day... but noticed one thing. 

There are TWO workouts a day. 

Oh mercy...

I do good to get in one workout in a busy day... they want me to do TWO?

I probably wouldn't do this Bikini series anyways because
1. I'm in week 3 of my Les Mills Combat & am LOVING it ... I want to finish the full plan.
2. Some of the workouts look a little advance, especially for someone who has so many issues (knee, back, shoulder - basically the whole body)
 & 3. This body will most likely NEVER see a bikini again anyways...

BUT - getting to the point I was going to make, yet have reached....

Those morning workouts, they said are very important & they call them the "Bootycalls" ... a cute little name to reference the early morning workout.  Everyone needs a cute name for a hashtag in todays world.

But I thought about it & I know I can't do full workouts in the morning.  I have to leave my home at 6:20am to make it to work anyways. 

BUT - & this is a big BUT - & its not mine we're talking about - I have started getting up about 15 minutes earlier this week & I've been doing a 'quick' workout.

Little 5-10 minute work outs that you can find on YouTube - by PopSugar, or Blogilates - & even a few by the Tone it up gals. 

& I'm LOVING IT!!!

I actually am more awake when I leave home.
I feel like I'm doing something good for my body.
I feel like this is a good 'wake up' for me.

& this morning?  I even pushed my alarm clock up more by another 10 minutes.

I may eventually make it where I can do a 20-30 minute work out before I leave for the day....

Now, I'm not going to be all insane work out & do 2 extreme work outs in a day - but it is SOMETHING... & again, my goal this year?  Just keep moving... & that's what the mornings are about.

I'm anxious to see how this affects me.
My strength.
If it helps boost some metabolism fire somewhere.

Please Lord.

So yeah... I'm now a Booty Call gal... I'm hoping to be one for awhile. 

 

Do you work out in the morning?

 

Do you do TWO workouts a day?

T25 about killed me....

Look at me getting back into a routine.

I used to get miles in on Monday, Thursday & a longer day on the weekend & cross train on Tuesday, & then Wednesday or Friday...

Well, I got the miles in on Monday - let's see what the cross training thing feels like.

So back to T25 I go. 

I figure I'll put my P90X3 off until I get through my races in March & then re-evaluate everything.

T25 Cardio.  I forgot what a witch you are ...

It felt like the longest 25 minutes of my life.

& I'm pretty sure I was thisclose to passing out by the end of it.

I may or may not have looked like this at the end of 25 minutes

But it felt good to work muscles that haven't been worked ... in a LONNGGGG time.

So I'm slowly working my way back to what my life used to look like.

Even remembering what it was like to moan & groan from sore muscles the next day.

That's a good thing by the way.

......

Side note - send me some good vibes. I go tomorrow to find out about my liver/pancreas/kidney scan for my side pain.  I always turn into a big ball of nerves at anything that is medically related so I could use some well wishes for good news & prayers of calm nerves.  Thanks!!!

Yeah... this is me...everytime

My first 5k of 2015

So I sat & looked at my Instagram all weekend at people running the Star Wars half marathon... & reading recaps of the full weekend of running in Disney a few weekends ago... & here I am, proud to have done my first 5k of the year.  :) #gome

It's funny how I my perspective has changed on races & goals & moving...

I love seeing what others are doing.  I read in awe... proud of everyone for doing amazing jobs at getting out there & getting it done. 

I'm also proud of me for getting moving again.  Abet slow... but moving.

It was such a beautiful day on Saturday & the hubs was working, so I put on some yoga pants, my tech jacket, which I haven't had on forever... & loaded up my ipod & went to my spot. 

My goal?  Just to keep going until I hit a 5k... easy enough... no time limit, no pressure.  Just inhale the fresh air, enjoy the blue skies & keep moving.

I looked back & saw I haven't done a 5k in MONTHS... the same person who loved to get in a 5k every time I put on my running shoes, at a minimum.  How things change.  But how they can change again.

At the end of it, at about mile 2.50, I thought, let's see what this body feels like running... & I actually did it.  Ran for the last part.  Again - slow.  But that's nothing new - even when I did run 5k's every day, slow is the word always used.  Always will be. 

But when I saw that 3.10 on my watch, I felt like I did all those races with everyone. I felt like I was part of the 'running community' again... even if 90% of it was walking.  I still felt like I was back to where I need to be to get to where I want to go... #deep

Still moving on... still pressing on....

Starting again... about 2 miles BEHIND the start line....

I did it...

I worked out last night.

I haven't really worked out good since October... when I was on vacation, then got a cold, then got my mystery side pain & the holidays & blah blah blah...

I can feel the difference from not working out & watching my food in the past 2 months.

I mean, I FEEL it...

my body just feels off, it feels heavy, I don't feel good.

With this side pain, its been even more aggravating because I literally am in pain 24/7 now.  But I thought, screw it, I have to start somewhere.... so last night, after getting home from an x-ray of my side, I put on sweat pants, my Nike watch & head to the treadmill.

I didn't care to run - just like my resolution - to just move...

Oh my gosh... I didn't realize how much out of shape I am, or feel.

I walked 1.81 miles in 35 minutes.  I felt like a elephant trudging along.

& the worst part.... within the first 15 minutes, my low back starting twanging. My knee started aching. My side pain that is always there welcomed all the aches & pains & said, more people to party with...

& then, I got off the treadmill & just felt even more 'off'... I was dizzy.  I felt strange.

I took my blood pressure about 30 minutes after getting off the treadmill & it was high & slightly odd... the first one was 150/95... the next time I took it about 15 minutes later, it was like 110/89 - which I always heard you don't want those numbers to be so close together.  Then I started mildly freaking out.. what is going on?  My blood pressure is normally like 101/58... LOW... my heart rate was staying in the 90's too.

I don't know if it was because my body was in pain... I don't know if it was because I had a stressful Monday... I don't know if it was because I had to go for my x-ray & am freaking the freak out slightly stressed about what this pain is...

Needless to say, I sat down & watched The Bachelor & knitted some more & just tried to make myself relax...

But I just sat there feeling awful.  Feeling useless.  Feeling like I am not only back at the start line... but I am a few miles BEHIND it... I've never felt this out of shape.  I've never felt this wrong or off.

This morning, I took my blood pressure & it was better. 110/70 ... my back pain didn't linger.  My knee is just its normal ache.  My side pain, still there...

So I'm going to work out again tonight.  Something slow.  I won't push it. I know I have a journey to go down... again... but I've done it before - I'll do it once more.

Starting from scratch...

Remember those days when I was talking about running, or P90X, or T25...

ahh.. memories...

I have been out of this working out thing for awhile now.  Starting at the end of October. 

Vacation, injuries, sickness, ER visits with weird side pain (that's still aggravating)

Not to mention depression from the time change & darkness & cold... I seriously have SADD... to the biggest extent possible.

But I worked out... for the first time in what felt like forever this week.

It was a pretty easy work out.  Wanted to try out my compression sleeves & to do that, I actually had to sweat.

All I can say is .... DEAR LORD...

I felt like I had never worked out a day in my life.

I felt so freaking old.

I felt so out of shape.

I felt like crap.

I realize I'm back to the beginning.

But I've been there before... & I worked myself up... to even more injuries! :) yippee!
I'll get there again... with even more injuries!! yehhawww!!

I have the worst outlook on life sometimes.

Anyways, I even registered for a virtual 5k that kicks off 2015.

At least I'm headed in the right direction.
I'll take it slow.  I'll try to start working out a few nights a week.  Get myself ready to kick it in full gear Jan 1st...

2015 has just GOT to be a better year...