Don't look back, if you're scared don't show it...
That is how I have been feeling lately. Has nothing to do with P90x, nothing to do with my Lupus but something that has me distracted and unproductive. I would just like to curl up in my bed and pretend nothing is happening, but I know that there are people who would pay the price and those people, my family, is why I get up every morning and keep on moving forward despite the pain, despite the fatigue and I'll be damned if I am going to stop now.
On the X front - I have not pushed play since Thursday. I have thought about it and wanted to but just couldn't. I know that it would probably be the best thing for me but I just wanted to hang out with my kids... so that is what I have done. I will redo week three to get it right and in the meantime I will be trying to get cardio in when I can and I will be pushing play again soon enough.
Hope you all had a better weekend...
Make it a great day!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Just Doin' my Best and Forgettin' the Rest
:P How cheesy am I today! lol
Well, I took Tuesday night off because I just couldn't manage the pain in my right knee but pushed through last night. I did modify some moves slightly but for the most part just tried to put myself in my happy place. My heart rate was higher than usual but I wonder if that is not because of the pain... not sure.
I still love Plyo but last night was the hardest workout in the past three weeks! I had a great sweat going on and I was proud to get through the workout but really would have liked it to be prettier by this stage of the game. In any case I can put it behind me and I won't see that one again for two weeks... so I will kick Plyo's ass the next time we meet!!
So, the plan this week is to do doubles tonight (shoulders and arms + yoga) so that I am back on schedule. It really works out well for us this phase as we will be on vacation next week and it will be on recovery week so we can keep the cardio up in the hotel and not feel guilty about missing our routines.
Anywho, here are the stats:
Plyometrics (Day 16)
Calories: 762
Average HR: 144
Max HR: 172
Make it a great day folks and keep pushing play!
Well, I took Tuesday night off because I just couldn't manage the pain in my right knee but pushed through last night. I did modify some moves slightly but for the most part just tried to put myself in my happy place. My heart rate was higher than usual but I wonder if that is not because of the pain... not sure.
I still love Plyo but last night was the hardest workout in the past three weeks! I had a great sweat going on and I was proud to get through the workout but really would have liked it to be prettier by this stage of the game. In any case I can put it behind me and I won't see that one again for two weeks... so I will kick Plyo's ass the next time we meet!!
So, the plan this week is to do doubles tonight (shoulders and arms + yoga) so that I am back on schedule. It really works out well for us this phase as we will be on vacation next week and it will be on recovery week so we can keep the cardio up in the hotel and not feel guilty about missing our routines.
Anywho, here are the stats:
Plyometrics (Day 16)
Calories: 762
Average HR: 144
Max HR: 172
Make it a great day folks and keep pushing play!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I just crushed Chest and Back
And I am getting stronger and feeling great. I am doing great with my push ups and I am so very grateful to have the lat pull down machine at my disposal now because I feel like I am accomplishing something. I am using 80 pounds and will likely increase the weights next week. During the first round last year I used to feel so defeated with this workout but now I am feeling proud and strong... it is a nice feeling.
My knee is beginning to flare up again... just in time for Plyo, GREAT! I will be pushing play despite the bad knee but will be modifying some of the lunges. I will also take a couple of pain killers before the workout and I should be fine.
Here are the stats from last night:
Calories: 349
Avg HR: 117
Max HR: 155
Make it a great day!
My knee is beginning to flare up again... just in time for Plyo, GREAT! I will be pushing play despite the bad knee but will be modifying some of the lunges. I will also take a couple of pain killers before the workout and I should be fine.
Here are the stats from last night:
Calories: 349
Avg HR: 117
Max HR: 155
Make it a great day!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday was a day of rest
Meeting ran late last night so we took it as a day of rest... tonight = Chest and Back
Monday, February 21, 2011
Week two complete, week three beginning!
Whew, I made it through week two... but it was not as great as I would have liked. I did not think that I was really modifying the moves but I was never able to get a really great calorie burn?!! Here are the stats and then I will talk about some things that I need to clarify.
Week 2:
Chest and Back - 337
Treadmill - 293
Plyometrics - 593
Shoulders and Arms - 384
Yoga - 207
Legs and Back & Treadmill- 705
Kenpo - 445
For a total of 2964 calories
Now, my big concern is with Yoga... I just feel like I am wasting 1 1/2 hours of my time doing Yoga when all I burned was 207 calories. Is it really worth it? I have to do some research today and see if yoga is going to do more for me than say... Cardio X. During that workout my average heart rate was 86... I think that I may have been sleeping!!!! There were moments that my heart rate went higher but in all it was low. I did get into the crane position three times (for mere seconds but I am counting it) and was able to hold most all of the other positions as well... but I could have cried when I stopped my HRM and saw what little fat I burned.
Anyway, I will get over it! I am adding Ab Ripper this week because I am feeling better. I will also note an increase in my Average and Maximum Heart Rate, I am sure because I am no longer on Prednizone. My weigh in will only take place at the end of the month... I am tired of being disappointed. I should say that someone asked me what I was doing because I was looking good... and looking like I was losing. That is always a motivator... so I will just stay away from the scale for now.
So, that is it... make it a great day! Tonight is Chest and Back - yippee!
Week 2:
Chest and Back - 337
Treadmill - 293
Plyometrics - 593
Shoulders and Arms - 384
Yoga - 207
Legs and Back & Treadmill- 705
Kenpo - 445
For a total of 2964 calories
Now, my big concern is with Yoga... I just feel like I am wasting 1 1/2 hours of my time doing Yoga when all I burned was 207 calories. Is it really worth it? I have to do some research today and see if yoga is going to do more for me than say... Cardio X. During that workout my average heart rate was 86... I think that I may have been sleeping!!!! There were moments that my heart rate went higher but in all it was low. I did get into the crane position three times (for mere seconds but I am counting it) and was able to hold most all of the other positions as well... but I could have cried when I stopped my HRM and saw what little fat I burned.
Anyway, I will get over it! I am adding Ab Ripper this week because I am feeling better. I will also note an increase in my Average and Maximum Heart Rate, I am sure because I am no longer on Prednizone. My weigh in will only take place at the end of the month... I am tired of being disappointed. I should say that someone asked me what I was doing because I was looking good... and looking like I was losing. That is always a motivator... so I will just stay away from the scale for now.
So, that is it... make it a great day! Tonight is Chest and Back - yippee!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Mr. Wonderful, My girls and Me
Friday photo share... taken on Sunday (missing from photo is my lil man but he was playing hockey and was not with us).
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Prednizone is working and I am back at it
Good morning friends! I have been quiet lately because there is still not that much to tell. I am still recovering from the last flare up but the prednizone is working now and I am feeling much better. The truth is that I feel very little pain on those drugs and I am able to accomplish much more... now if I could find a drug like that to inject some serious Vitamin D in my system and beat these winter blues.
On the X-front, I have decided to accept Monday as my day of rest for this week and I will make up the Kempo that I missed last week on one of my lunch breaks this week. I did Chest and Back last night and followed it with an easy 2 mile run on the treadmill. I am feeling strong and I see such an improvement over the first round of the X that it is seriously encouraging. I did not increase my weights on the exercises this week; still using 25 pounds for lawn mowers and pull up your pants exercises, 12 pounds for back flys (will be increasing this next week) and my own weight for all the other exercises... chin ups are all assisted but I still feel the burn! I was able to do 5 dive bombers and did at least 10 of each push up on my toes before dropping to my knees and completing the sets. It was a good night!
Tonight is Plyo... but here are the stats for last night's workout:
Chest and Back:
Calories: 337
Avg HR: 107
Max HR: 176
Treadmill:
Calories: 293
Avg HR; 142
Max HR: 169
Make it a great day!!
On the X-front, I have decided to accept Monday as my day of rest for this week and I will make up the Kempo that I missed last week on one of my lunch breaks this week. I did Chest and Back last night and followed it with an easy 2 mile run on the treadmill. I am feeling strong and I see such an improvement over the first round of the X that it is seriously encouraging. I did not increase my weights on the exercises this week; still using 25 pounds for lawn mowers and pull up your pants exercises, 12 pounds for back flys (will be increasing this next week) and my own weight for all the other exercises... chin ups are all assisted but I still feel the burn! I was able to do 5 dive bombers and did at least 10 of each push up on my toes before dropping to my knees and completing the sets. It was a good night!
Tonight is Plyo... but here are the stats for last night's workout:
Chest and Back:
Calories: 337
Avg HR: 107
Max HR: 176
Treadmill:
Calories: 293
Avg HR; 142
Max HR: 169
Make it a great day!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Back on the Prednizone and packing on the poundage
Why is it that I am able to take two big steps forward only to be followed by two giant steps backwards?
I think what happened last week was that I was too excited to be back at it and went at it too hard. I have this obsession with everything that I do ... I go "all in" regardless of how big the risk. I like to give it all I have and sometimes it is to my detriment. But alas, I have to relearn the fact that my body rejects my brain's requests to push myself beyond my limits. I have to learn to listen to my body better and I had no choice but to listen this past week!
It started with a flare up in the right knee, then I developed a second flare up in the left knee and in the left ankle and finally the symptom that made me sit up and listen is when my chest pain was so severe that I could not use my left arm or breathe a full breath. I knew that it was time to slow it up... and so I ended up missing one day last week but after three days of Prednizone I am ready to get back in the game. Although my joints and chest are recovering my weight has suffered... I have gained 5 pounds this past week!!! NOT GOOD but I know that it is a lot of water weight so I am not going to stop working at it... I have to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint (but it still sucks).
This week I am focused and I am going to do just the X and I will do that well. I have also restocked my favorite protein shake (BSN Syntha 6 - Banana) and I will be taking that at lunch time to increase calories and protein levels. I will continue to eat 5 times per day and avoid sugar as much as humanly possible... until the treatment of prednizone is done and then I WILL not eat sugar - period!
So, that is the plan for the week... here are the stats from my legs and back workout this weekend:
Calories: 413
Avg HR: 117
Max HR: 159
IT was an awesome workout and even on the meds I still have sore glutes... so those muscles were seriously working!
Make it a great day! Keep pushing play friends...
I think what happened last week was that I was too excited to be back at it and went at it too hard. I have this obsession with everything that I do ... I go "all in" regardless of how big the risk. I like to give it all I have and sometimes it is to my detriment. But alas, I have to relearn the fact that my body rejects my brain's requests to push myself beyond my limits. I have to learn to listen to my body better and I had no choice but to listen this past week!
It started with a flare up in the right knee, then I developed a second flare up in the left knee and in the left ankle and finally the symptom that made me sit up and listen is when my chest pain was so severe that I could not use my left arm or breathe a full breath. I knew that it was time to slow it up... and so I ended up missing one day last week but after three days of Prednizone I am ready to get back in the game. Although my joints and chest are recovering my weight has suffered... I have gained 5 pounds this past week!!! NOT GOOD but I know that it is a lot of water weight so I am not going to stop working at it... I have to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint (but it still sucks).
This week I am focused and I am going to do just the X and I will do that well. I have also restocked my favorite protein shake (BSN Syntha 6 - Banana) and I will be taking that at lunch time to increase calories and protein levels. I will continue to eat 5 times per day and avoid sugar as much as humanly possible... until the treatment of prednizone is done and then I WILL not eat sugar - period!
So, that is the plan for the week... here are the stats from my legs and back workout this weekend:
Calories: 413
Avg HR: 117
Max HR: 159
IT was an awesome workout and even on the meds I still have sore glutes... so those muscles were seriously working!
Make it a great day! Keep pushing play friends...
Friday, February 11, 2011
A confession ((((blush))))
Ok, so I skipped the Zumba class yesterday because I was having trouble walking and wanted to save myself for my P90X since that is my program with priority. So Superwoman and I just hung out over lunch and we have planned on doing that Zumba today at lunch.
So, last night I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage my time. Mr. Wonderful had not done the Shoulders workout with me the night before because he was trying to recover a little, so I knew that he would want to get it done last night... and I was right. SO, he went first while I was putting the little ones to bed. I read a story to Buba and a week's worth of diary entries for Squeelie (she is reading Dear Dumb Diary) and met my Mr. WOnderful in our gym. I noticed that he had 35 minutes left and so I set the treadmill for 35 minutes and began my warm up... 2.5 miles and a nice calorie burn (details to follow). After my hubby was done his workout I began my yoga hell, I mean yoga bliss. I did the warm up and the stretch in my muscles were hurting but I knew that it meant that it would do me good... and it really did. Here comes the confession... after the warm up I skipped the vinyasa moves and only did the last hour of the program. I always burned out my brain and my muscles during those darn moves so I thought that I would begin with the balance moves and go back to the vinyasas. Turns out that I am pretty darn good at the last 2/3 of that program... and I was so proud and feeling so good that I did not go back to the beginning - I just walked away.
SO, here are my stats for last night's workouts:
Treadmill:
Calories: 433
Avg HR: 141
Max HR: 176
Yoga X:
Calories: 303
Avg HR: 109
Max HR: 140 ( I am sure this happened when I was trying to get in the crane position)
So... onward and upward I go, with some prednisone in my system to help me through - Legs and Back tonight + Ab Ripper X and Zumba on lunch... can't wait for weigh-in MOnday to see what has happened during this week.
Make it a great day!
So, last night I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage my time. Mr. Wonderful had not done the Shoulders workout with me the night before because he was trying to recover a little, so I knew that he would want to get it done last night... and I was right. SO, he went first while I was putting the little ones to bed. I read a story to Buba and a week's worth of diary entries for Squeelie (she is reading Dear Dumb Diary) and met my Mr. WOnderful in our gym. I noticed that he had 35 minutes left and so I set the treadmill for 35 minutes and began my warm up... 2.5 miles and a nice calorie burn (details to follow). After my hubby was done his workout I began my yoga hell, I mean yoga bliss. I did the warm up and the stretch in my muscles were hurting but I knew that it meant that it would do me good... and it really did. Here comes the confession... after the warm up I skipped the vinyasa moves and only did the last hour of the program. I always burned out my brain and my muscles during those darn moves so I thought that I would begin with the balance moves and go back to the vinyasas. Turns out that I am pretty darn good at the last 2/3 of that program... and I was so proud and feeling so good that I did not go back to the beginning - I just walked away.
SO, here are my stats for last night's workouts:
Treadmill:
Calories: 433
Avg HR: 141
Max HR: 176
Yoga X:
Calories: 303
Avg HR: 109
Max HR: 140 ( I am sure this happened when I was trying to get in the crane position)
So... onward and upward I go, with some prednisone in my system to help me through - Legs and Back tonight + Ab Ripper X and Zumba on lunch... can't wait for weigh-in MOnday to see what has happened during this week.
Make it a great day!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Shoulders and Arms
Well good morning... and what a glorious morning it is! The sun is shining but the mercury reminds us that it is still winter (-21 degrees). My heart is feeling like a million bucks but my joints are screaming at me! I am pushing myself beyond my limits to expand them but at the same time my body is MAD. I called my specialist to see if there is something else that he might be able to prescribe for me to help control the pain but I have not heard back yet. In the meantime, I am taking painkillers every four hours and hoping that I will get a reply from my Dr before too long. I am not letting this stall my progress... I just try and put my mind over matter, and so far it has been working.
Last nights workout was shoulders and arms... and I forgot how freaking hard those crouching Cohen curls were!! I was shaking and nearly did not get in the 12th rep in. I was using 15lbs and I can't see myself ready to increase that weight next week neither :P Following the Shoulder workout I stopped the DVD because I did not think that my knees would tolerate the in and outs or bicycle exercises in the Ab Ripper program... so I hoped on my treadmill and did an easy 1.5 mile in 20 minutes. My knees were grinding at first and I thought that was maybe a bad idea too... but then I got in my "good place" with the tunes in my ears and my head clear I was able to get through it and add to my calorie burn. I should mention that I was able to jog (4.5 & 5.0 MPH) for 5 minutes and did not once consider dropping the speed. I was so "in the moment" that I think that I may have been able to do that speed for 10+ minutes but the program I was doing slowed it down and I did not re-adjust it. Overall it was a great night!
Here are the facts:
Shoulders and Arms + Treadmill:
Calories: 652
AvG HR: 127
Max HR: 174
So, the plan today is to try Zumba on our lunch hour. That should be fun... so I hear! Then tonight is my most dreaded night of all... Yoga! I suck at yoga but I am committing 100% to this round, so I am going to conquer that damn thing!!
Make it a great day folks!
Last nights workout was shoulders and arms... and I forgot how freaking hard those crouching Cohen curls were!! I was shaking and nearly did not get in the 12th rep in. I was using 15lbs and I can't see myself ready to increase that weight next week neither :P Following the Shoulder workout I stopped the DVD because I did not think that my knees would tolerate the in and outs or bicycle exercises in the Ab Ripper program... so I hoped on my treadmill and did an easy 1.5 mile in 20 minutes. My knees were grinding at first and I thought that was maybe a bad idea too... but then I got in my "good place" with the tunes in my ears and my head clear I was able to get through it and add to my calorie burn. I should mention that I was able to jog (4.5 & 5.0 MPH) for 5 minutes and did not once consider dropping the speed. I was so "in the moment" that I think that I may have been able to do that speed for 10+ minutes but the program I was doing slowed it down and I did not re-adjust it. Overall it was a great night!
Here are the facts:
Shoulders and Arms + Treadmill:
Calories: 652
AvG HR: 127
Max HR: 174
So, the plan today is to try Zumba on our lunch hour. That should be fun... so I hear! Then tonight is my most dreaded night of all... Yoga! I suck at yoga but I am committing 100% to this round, so I am going to conquer that damn thing!!
Make it a great day folks!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Plyometrics + Fire 30 = Great Calorie Loss
Good morning all! I had such a great day yesterday... did Fire 30 on my lunch and Plyo last night. I have to say that I am stronger now than I was at the end of my first round of P90x. I was surprised that I was able to pull through with the strength that I did - yeah me! I suppose it was because of Insanity and Turbo Fire and Hip Hop Abs that I was dabbling in while on my break between rounds. Or perhaps it is because I want it more now than I did before? But whatever the reason, the programs or my desire, I was thankful for a good night.
I would love to have some feedback on my food intake for the day, for those who are well versed in the nutritional component that is so important to my success:
B-fast: 2 Six-grain toast with low fat peanut butter
S1: Banana
Lunch: 3 stalks of celery and 9 baby carrots with 1 TBSP of hummus
S2: Apple
Dinner: Broccoli and Steak stir fry (p90x recipe) with 1/2 cup of long grain rice
68 oz of water
Is that ok? I will be adding a protien drink to my lunch starting Saturday (when it arrives in the mail).
On the stats side of my workouts for yesterday:
Fire 30:
Calories: 445
Avg HR:141
Max HR:174
Plyometrics:
Calories: 820
Avg HR: 142
Max HR: 181
Overall a great day!
Make it a great day folks... keep pushing play!!
I would love to have some feedback on my food intake for the day, for those who are well versed in the nutritional component that is so important to my success:
B-fast: 2 Six-grain toast with low fat peanut butter
S1: Banana
Lunch: 3 stalks of celery and 9 baby carrots with 1 TBSP of hummus
S2: Apple
Dinner: Broccoli and Steak stir fry (p90x recipe) with 1/2 cup of long grain rice
68 oz of water
Is that ok? I will be adding a protien drink to my lunch starting Saturday (when it arrives in the mail).
On the stats side of my workouts for yesterday:
Fire 30:
Calories: 445
Avg HR:141
Max HR:174
Plyometrics:
Calories: 820
Avg HR: 142
Max HR: 181
Overall a great day!
Make it a great day folks... keep pushing play!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
As Promised... the gym photos
Sorry for how blurry they are... they are taken with my Blackberry and are not of the best quality
Monday, February 7, 2011
And so it Begins!
Round 2 ... and I couldn't be more excited! Excited about the work that lies ahead of me, excited about the possibilities and excited about doing it with my Mr. Wonderful who will keep me pushing harder. So, yesterday I went shopping so that I may follow the program as closely as possible. I am going to see some great results this round, of that I am certain!
So, since we are scheduled to start today and knowing that we work out at night I needed to figure out a way around my city council meeting. I am a councilor and will be required to attend the meeting tonight so I decided to do my workout last night and when I get home tonight, should Mr. Wonderful still be working out, I will just do a routine on the treadmill and then we will be on to Plyo tomorrow night... so I have my facts to share today:
Chest and Back + Ab Ripper X
Calories: 430
AVG HR: 116
Max HR: 159
Lunch hour workout data:
Hip Hop Fat Burning Cardio:
Calories: 348
Avg HR: 139
Max HR: 168
.............................................................................................................................
Have I mentioned how much I love my home gym?!!! We are all taking our turns and working out... even my teenaged daughter! She has not missed a workout since we installed the equipement and she is feeling GREAT! She even put on Ab Ripper on Saturday night and did really well with it. I think that she may even join us with the X... when she is ready of course (I can't make that girl do anything :P).
I took pictures of the gym completed but left my phone at home. I will bring it in tomorrow and share.
Make it a great day!
So, since we are scheduled to start today and knowing that we work out at night I needed to figure out a way around my city council meeting. I am a councilor and will be required to attend the meeting tonight so I decided to do my workout last night and when I get home tonight, should Mr. Wonderful still be working out, I will just do a routine on the treadmill and then we will be on to Plyo tomorrow night... so I have my facts to share today:
Chest and Back + Ab Ripper X
Calories: 430
AVG HR: 116
Max HR: 159
Lunch hour workout data:
Hip Hop Fat Burning Cardio:
Calories: 348
Avg HR: 139
Max HR: 168
.............................................................................................................................
Have I mentioned how much I love my home gym?!!! We are all taking our turns and working out... even my teenaged daughter! She has not missed a workout since we installed the equipement and she is feeling GREAT! She even put on Ab Ripper on Saturday night and did really well with it. I think that she may even join us with the X... when she is ready of course (I can't make that girl do anything :P).
I took pictures of the gym completed but left my phone at home. I will bring it in tomorrow and share.
Make it a great day!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Are you thinking about starting P90x???
Well, why don't you start with me on MOnday? We can keep one another motivated and accountable... we can share our successes and stresses... we can be workout buddies!
I AM starting, without fail, on Monday, February 7th. My Mr. Wonderful is going to be starting with me and we are going to KNOCK IT OUTTA DA PARK... we will be a team and I am opening up an invitation to YOU to join us.
Update: I did Hip Hop Abs, Total body today at lunch and it was FUN! I was still sore from Wednesday's ab workout so I can imagine that I will be really sore tomorrow from this one. It takes me so long to recover from these workouts... but I am not using that as any kind of excuse... nope, not me!
Here are the stats:
Calories: 448
Avg HR: 143
Max HR: 183
Leave me a comment and let me know that you are IN it with us.
Make it a great day!
I AM starting, without fail, on Monday, February 7th. My Mr. Wonderful is going to be starting with me and we are going to KNOCK IT OUTTA DA PARK... we will be a team and I am opening up an invitation to YOU to join us.
Update: I did Hip Hop Abs, Total body today at lunch and it was FUN! I was still sore from Wednesday's ab workout so I can imagine that I will be really sore tomorrow from this one. It takes me so long to recover from these workouts... but I am not using that as any kind of excuse... nope, not me!
Here are the stats:
Calories: 448
Avg HR: 143
Max HR: 183
Leave me a comment and let me know that you are IN it with us.
Make it a great day!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
And now there is a treadmill...
So, the home gym continues to come together. Our treadmill is assembled and ready for use. I got on it last night for about 20 minutes while we were allowing the grease to lube the rollie-things and it was nice; however, when I got off I felt like I had been aboard a boat!!?! Is that normal? Anyway, I am going to try and get on it again tonight and see if I can't do a full routine without my dear hubby needing my help with more assembly projects.
Besides the treadmill we also assembled the Smith rack... just the outside of the rack. We have successfully completed four steps in a nine step process... but we are getting it! Tonight we will finish the rack and HOPEFULLY put it in its place and then I will take the pictures. If not Friday night for sure we will have it all together.
One last little thing... I did manage to have a lunch workout with SuperWoman, albeit short. We did the Ab workout due to time constraints and I felt it, for sure. I did get my Mom to burn me her copy of Hip Hop Abs that I think that I will bring to work and try to incorporate in our lunch routines so that we can avoid laying on the dirty floor... but that will have to be next week.
Thanks for reading and being patient with me... next week will be the first week that I will be back on track. I will be committed, motivated and SORE -- can't wait!
Make it a great day!!!
Besides the treadmill we also assembled the Smith rack... just the outside of the rack. We have successfully completed four steps in a nine step process... but we are getting it! Tonight we will finish the rack and HOPEFULLY put it in its place and then I will take the pictures. If not Friday night for sure we will have it all together.
One last little thing... I did manage to have a lunch workout with SuperWoman, albeit short. We did the Ab workout due to time constraints and I felt it, for sure. I did get my Mom to burn me her copy of Hip Hop Abs that I think that I will bring to work and try to incorporate in our lunch routines so that we can avoid laying on the dirty floor... but that will have to be next week.
Thanks for reading and being patient with me... next week will be the first week that I will be back on track. I will be committed, motivated and SORE -- can't wait!
Make it a great day!!!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The mirrors are up...
The gym is starting to look like a REAL gym! We have put up the mirrors, have the dumbell rack up and stacked with all our weights and we put the olympic bench together last night... it is starting to come together!! We worked at it until 10:30 and then we crashed. I am doing Turbo Fire today at lunch with Super Woman, it has been too long since I have done anything so I am REALLY looking forward to it!
Stay tuned for pictures ;')
Make it a great day!!
Stay tuned for pictures ;')
Make it a great day!!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Gearing up... getting ready!
So this weekend my Dear Hubby and I went and picked up our workout equipment and mirrors for the home gym. We have both agreed to start the second round of P90X on February 7th. We are also going to be throwing in additional cardio, We are looking forward to making strides again....
in the meantime, this is just a little something that I lifted from another site that I thought was interesting:
10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost
Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.
For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.
When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?
If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.
Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.
Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.
Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.
Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.
Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.
Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.
Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.
Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.
Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.
Make it a great day!
in the meantime, this is just a little something that I lifted from another site that I thought was interesting:
10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost
Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.
For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.
When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?
If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.
Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.
Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.
Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.
Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.
Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.
Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.
Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.
Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.
Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.
Make it a great day!
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