Do the Locomotion With Me!!!

Yup....change is in the air!

2010-02-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

Check me out HERE from now on!

Small Victories...

2010-01-23T22:58:00.002-05:00

Two Things:

1. I weight myself every week and this week I lost 4 pounds!!

Vlad has made fun of me and my video since I got it. Especially when I complain about my soreness. He would say things like, "hey, now that you finished your video, are you going to go to the gym and do a real workout?" I have wanted to punch him in the face for several weeks..... So, instead of punching him, I challenged him to a video duel. He had to do a workout with me and if he completed the video with ease, he could make fun of me all he wanted....BUT, if he couldn't....I could make fun of HIM all I wanted....he, he...

2. He totally couldn't finish. He barely made if half way through!! I finished it! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! YES!!

Love today.

grrr....

2010-01-10T10:36:00.001-05:00

It's starting to get to me that I STILL hate that damn DVD.

It's kicking my ass!!!

Don't dismay.....

2010-01-07T17:50:00.003-05:00

Eventhough it's been a few days, I HAVE been working out! It's just that I've been so damn cold after working out that my fingers just don't work!

Also, it's been snowing here and from what I see on the news, it's been snowing almost everywhere. So, I stayed at home and did the Shape Magazine DVD intervals this morning instead of my workout class. It still kicked my ass...

I have to say that I LOVE the way that I feel after I have worked out, but I DESPISE working out. I wish there was a pill (besides drugs that would show up on my random pee test) that I could take that would make me feel that way.....AND make my waistline smaller.....Hmmm...

before I go work out......this is all I have to say.

2010-01-05T05:41:00.001-05:00

Zero, my friends. Zero.

7 degrees. Seriously?!?!?

2010-01-04T21:10:00.004-05:00

So, today I woke up at 530 to go to cardio at the gym and while I was drinking water I saw this....

The wind chill was 7!! Wow.

So, today, I moved slowly because I didn't sleep well...BUT, I made it to the gym and did 30 minutes on that Octane machine on a higher level.

Today, my playlist was Beyonce songs...I know, I know...lame...but, they were upbeat!

I'm exhausted. tomorrow is the strength training class...I promise next post will definitely be more interesting. ;)

My Saving Graces....

2010-01-01T12:00:00.003-05:00

Hello Sexy...... Fancy a drink?

I'm so happy I found you!

I've been kicked out of my house!

2009-12-31T07:30:00.003-05:00

So, it's 730 right now and I'm sitting outside of my front door because I have 6 people inside still sleeping and, frankly, after going to a strength training class at my gym, I'm just hungry....not tired. At least not yet. Give me a few hours when everyone is waking up and I'll be falling asleep- I'm sure!

Anyway, another day of waking up at 530am (I actually got out of the house within 15 minutes of waking!!) and going to my gym. I am learning to love my gym. It's free (that part is easy to love), the hours may not be amazing (it's at my church, so Sundays-closed, any holiday and the day before-closed or closed so early that it may as well be closed), but it has classes that are only $1.50 each session (which is $12 a month for the class that I want- still cheaper than my last gym!). Also, because I'm attending a HUMONGOUS church....the gym is big!

Okay, strength training class today. I woke up STILL sore from my leg workout on Tuesday, BUT I could walk normally and I completely underestimated this class because I really didn't think that it would hurt as much. But, hurt it did. Wow... Everyone was really friendly and we just moaned the entire way while this cute older lady KICKED OUR ASSES.

We did lunges, squats, ham curls, lots of ab workouts, rows.....etc...it was full body in 50 minutes of hell. My legs were like jello walking up the stairs to the condo! This is definitely going to hurt tomorrow...

Good news though! Since it's a holiday, the gym is closed!! ;-) This is where the inconvenient hours actually help.

I'll probably just do the video tomorrow to kind of "work out" that lactic acid from the muscles.

:)

The class ended with a devotional while we were doing our last stretches. That was interestingly wonderful.

Happy New Year Everyone!! 2009 was good, but 2010 will be GREAT!

Thank you, Lord.

I will call them liars.....

2009-12-30T08:10:00.005-05:00

You know those people that always tell you, "The way to stop soreness is to workout.....it'll get the lactic acid out of your muscles faster....etc.." blah, blah, blah. Well, I will point to those said people and yell out loud, "Liars!" At least, for NOW I'll say that........I might change my tune tomorrow when my legs aren't sore anymore and I can walk again....but today I will judge!

Moving on...... Yesterday I did a legs workout with free weights. Since I'm on vacation right now, I'm pretty much able to go to the gym at the same time as housewives and that has made my workouts a little more interesting. See, normally, I'm working out with a bunch of strong guys or gals that look at me as though my fat butt shouldn't be taking up so much space in the free weight section of the gym......but, going at 1030 in the morning leaves the free weight section completely free for me to use.....BUT, I have to pay the price of having about 6 ladies huddled together around the hip abductor machine watching me and whispering.

Sometimes I wonder what they are saying. Maybe they are commenting on how big my biceps are.....or most likely how big everything else is. Either way, they are always surprised when I do things like Dead Lifts (which is the exact reason I'm so sore, by the way), Walking Lunges or Squats holding weights. Half the time, I wonder if they have seen anyone in the free weight section at all. I walked in yesterday and I swear I saw tumbleweed roll across the bench press....

So, after working out, I progressively became more and more tender as the day passed. Eventually I had trouble (more like I whined a lot) walking up the stairs after bowling with my parents. Vlad had no sympathy. He told me that I should do cardio today to "work out" the soreness......going back to the beginning of this blog; I point and call him a liar.

I woke up this morning at 530am, sat up for about 15 minutes, changed clothing for about 10 minutes, sat on the couch for another 15 minutes, drank some water for 10 minutes and finally decided it was time to go to the gym and do that leg-saving cardio.

This is what I did. It's called the Octane-something or other. All I know is that it's the bane of my cardio existence. I did it for thirty minutes and it kept changing levels on me! I'm pretty sure I set it to do that, but I will resent it anyway.

Here's what's funny (funny weird, not funny ha-ha), I'm not sure what was harder: working out for 30 minutes straight on cardio without stopping (which I hardly ever do-I normally do something like intervals) or staring at the same spot on the wall, in the same room, for 30 minutes. Hmmmm......either way, I completed.

Do not be deceived by this picture- I am NOT that happy in the morning. It's just that I can't feel anything below my waist at this point..... My butt, hamstrings, quads and even calves are numb right there. But, don't worry, the pain came back shortly after I got out of my car and just in time to walk up my stairs again. Yippee.

Oh yeah, here's the scripture that I kept repeating to myself when I was tired....

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

Deut. 31:6

To God be the glory.

How laptops help you lose weight......

2009-12-27T21:36:00.004-05:00

So, I have all these guests staying with me for the week and I've been worried that I won't consistently work out........and that's pretty much because I will latch onto ANY reason not to work out.

But, two things have happened. First, I just got a laptop. Secondly, I've been using this interval workout on DVD that has been kicking my ass. So, while I knew that I couldn't work out in my living room this week......I simply took my laptop and DVD to our little (tiny, miniscule) work out room that my complex has and kicked some DVD ass. It was awesome!

Also, this DVD is NOT your mama's DVD. It is killing me! Everything is sore!

Anyway, the new year is going to have a lot in store for me. Vlad is going to meet my extended family for the first time in March and we both want to look awesome! So, it looks like we're going to be hitting everything hard......fun times!

This blog SHOULD be updated DAILY..... ;-)

Merry Christmas!!!!

2009-12-25T10:28:00.000-05:00

Do I HAVE to work out today?!?!?!

talk about being lazy!!!!

2009-12-19T20:14:00.002-05:00

The good news.......I haven't gained any weight

The bad news........I haven't lost any weight

Alright, so in the mornings, I've started again to get back in the habit. Starting small.....

So, I'm doing a DVD created by Shape Magazine called "The 20 Minute Makeover" (yes, I know, sounds terribly cheesy)

It's actually interval training for 20 minutes with another 40 minutes of add ons that you can do to be more body part specific.

Just the intervals are pretty awesome. I was so sore after my first day that I was walking weird. It's intense cardio for 2-4 minutes, then strength training in between.

Now, just to get back in the gym. With the holidays, it has been more difficult than I thought.

Got To Get Motivated!!!!

damn flags.....

2008-03-25T10:05:00.006-04:00

Yes, I know, I have been neglecting my workouts and blogging lately. But, I'm back!

First, a story....I THOUGHT yesterday that I would try to see if working out in the afternoons after work would be nice and that maybe I would change my morning schedule......ummmm, no.

I went to the gym yesterday after work and I couldn't find parking! EVERY SINGLE MACHINE was taken by cheerleaders from the local highschool and every weight was taken up by the local basketball team. And then there were parents!! It was horrible! It took me an hour and a half to not even complete my workout! I will never go there again in the afternoon.

So, I went this morning to finish what I started yesterday....the combination of yesterday and today is:

2x15 15lbs bicep curls (you guys DO know that it's 15lbs in each hand right?)
2x15 30lbs triceps extensions
2x15 10lbs lateral raises
1x10 30lbs lunges -I couldn't finish these because the damn basketball players were all up in my grill!
2x15 10lbs stiff leg dead lifts
2x15 back extensions (Alex, you were totally right, the pad was too high last time. Thanks!)
3x15 80lbs seated press
2x15 30lbs pulley row
2x10 my modified dragon flags
2x15 frog kicks (these were SO hard to do after the flags)
1x 1 minute plank and then 1 x30 second plank. Ummm, super hard.
2x15 ab crunches that involve throwing a 6lb medicine ball.
(abs were split between the two days....don't be thinking that I have abs of steel to be able to do all of that in a row!! )
10 minutes of hard running intervals. I kicked up the intensity today and I was REALLY feeling it- tried to make it to 15 minutes, but my body wasn't having it. Gotta get there!

It felt great to be back in.

side note: while I've been exercising, I figured that I would try to change one habit at a time. Now, that I've grown to at least LIKE working out, today is the day that I seriously kicked my diet into high gear. My body (namely my psyche- because I'm eating plenty) is not very happy with me right now. Wow, how clearly my addiction to sugary and ultra starchy foods has come out! Jeez.

small muscle, big pull

2008-03-19T09:22:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I took Rosy to the gym with me and it was GREAT! I didn't realize how much of a motivating impact music would have on my workout......

3x15 45lbs(bar) bench press
2x15 20lbs bicep curls
3x15 25lbs tricep pull downs
3x13 (I can't seem to make it to 15!) 10lbs lateral raises
3x15 70lbs lat pull downs
2x20 5lbs russian twist
3x15 frog kicks
and here's the kicker... 2x15 5lbs back extensions.....somewhere in the middle of this, I pulled an itty bitty back muscle that apparently plays a very big role in daily living....

so....only 4 minutes of interval running passed before I realized that I *pulled* the muscle instead of just worked it out.

Good going, Vivian.

Now, I'm going to take a couple of days off to relax and heal up. dangit.

Hamstrings, Hamstrings....

2008-03-17T09:12:00.003-04:00

So, I've been doing some research on this hip problem that I have. It's such a random thing that I am trying to figure out what issues play into it. Well, I happened upon one of the major contributors to hip problems when I was perusing a website that a friend of mine referred me to, www.crossfit.com I was checking out some of their videos, when I saw an instructional video on this squat exercise that they do....anyway, it went through a series of "wrong ways" to do these squats. In that educational section, it mentioned short hamstrings and how they affect low squats (and not being able to do them effectively) and how they affect the hip flexors (by pulling on them and shifting everything). So, I did a little research and, as it turns out, it is one of the most common contributors to hip problems.....So, I did more research and basically, there's not a TON you can do for that, short of making sure that your hamstrings are more flexible and such...BUT, there were some moves you could do to TEST if you have short hammys....and every one of those tests I did in the gym over the weekend shows that I, in fact, have SUPER short and super tight hammys. Hey, at least I know now.
So, today I started with stretches....I pretty much stretched my hammy's after every set today and I changed how I was going to work them out....

2x15 40lbs squats
2x10 30lbs lunges
2x15 40lbs half squats
2x15 130lbs hip adduction
2x15 125lbs hip adbuction
still stretching!
2x15 5lbs back extensions
2x15 27.5lbs pulley row
2x15 10lbs stiff leg dead lifts
5 supermans (30seconds each)
10 dragon flags
2x15 frog kicks
5 dragon flags....these really hurt
only 5 minutes of intervals....my legs were tired and really didn't want to go any further.

The weekend....graduation.

2008-03-16T10:30:00.000-04:00

Sunday workout....was done before church and I sorely miscalculated on time and stuff...so, it was also an ultra short workout. I intended on going back, but after having Indian food after church, there was no way in hades I was going back!!

3x15 15lbs bicep curls
3x15 45lbs (just the bar) bench press -I've graduated to the bar instead of doing individual weights. yippee!
3x15 25lbs tricep press downs
2 flimsy dragon flags (my arms were a little "trembly" so I couldn't really do a good job of holding myself on the bench)
5 supermans
....eeh..and I think that's it. It was definitely a cheesy workout...

Way of the Dragon...

2008-03-14T07:52:00.005-04:00

I can't seem to stop over snoozing my mornings! I have GOT to stop! Anyway, I showed up at the gym at 7am!!!! Ridiculous!!

2x15 40lbs dumbbell squats
2x15 40lbs the half squat things.....I really need to look up the name of that exercise..
2x15 45lbs leg extensions
1x15 50lbs leg extensions
3x15 135lbs hip adduction
3x15 130lbs hip abduction

So, I tried dragon flags again.....I wanted to see if I could control my downswing so as to avoid hurting my hip again.

I did three pretty slowly to see if I could do it and it felt good....so.. I did 10 more. now I feel like my abs are torn!! I did modify the flag a little....I didn't do it on a flat bench, there is an incline bench with a hand grip at the top (I guess it's for ab work). I did it there, it made it a little easier to help myself up into the flag. I am hoping to "graduate" to doing it on a flat bench.

2x20 frog kicks....these were painful after just 10 of the flags.
2x15 oblique reverse crunches (I just made up that name....it's when you sit on the ball, nice and tall, and you twist and crunch BACK-or down- instead of starting at the lower position, twisting and bringing yourself UP...know what I mean?)

after this, I tried to do some supermans....only succeeded in doing two for 30 seconds a piece before I just HAD to go...

so, no running either. I'll do that tomorrow.

Wow, Bruce, for a little Asian dude, you are HUGE!!

Hope everyone has an awesome day!

ugh....

2008-03-13T07:47:00.003-04:00

That's pretty much what I felt like when my alarm clock went off this morning. I even "snoozed"-in for a while before I just had to say out loud several times, "Vivian, get UP!!!!"

Needless to say, I woke up later than intended, so I arrived at the gym at 650pm and I usually LEAVE the gym at 7am.....short workout- rushed like crazy this morning....

2x15 10lbs lateral raises
2x15 20lbs tricep press downs
2x15 15lbs bicep curls
2x15 70lbs lat pull downs
8 minutes interval running....then I ran out of there....

but, hey, I got back in!!!!

My Fat Perspective! :)

2008-03-12T11:40:00.003-04:00

You know, I have a friend that just pointed me in the direction of a couple of blogs in reference to dieting and "fatness" in general....they were awesome to read.

Overall, the theme of one blog was basically in the general acceptance of those who are overweight and really, being overweight (according to this blog ) may not be as bad as people think. It talks about society and how it hates fat people and addresses issues like that. If you want to read it, by all means go to... http://kateharding.net/but-dont-you-realize-fat-is-unhealthy/

Here is my perspective on MY whole exercise and eating better thing:

While I am aware that I'm overweight, I've NEVER obsessed about it. Don't get me wrong, there are times (especially when PMSing) that I fret about EVERYTHING, including my weight. But, overall, I'm generally happy with my life. I love my friends (and I have GREAT friends), I love my family, I reflect on my childhood with fond memories, and Christ has always provided me with a true sense of self worth.

I need people to understand- and I need to make sure that I understand- that there are several reasons I'm working out:

1. It would be awesome to be able to lift things without fear of hurting myself.
2. Tennis is something that I'd like to pick up again.
3. I have this friend(she's been a HUGE motivation) that told me about her goal of wanting to be in the best shape of her life on her 30th birthday. I saw her work through to that goal for over a year and make it....it was incredibly motivating...especially considering that she was slender already and it wasn't about losing weight, it was about getting stronger overall.
4. I love seeing how my body responds to challenges.
5. The effects of PCOS can be controlled with exercise and diet changes, but it's a challenging ride that doesn't involve simple starving yourself to lose the weight.
6. Of course, in the midst of all of this, weight loss is inevitable.... I weigh myself about once or twice a week just to see how my body is responding to what I'm doing to it, but as long as I'm working out and eating well, I am not as focused on my weight loss as I am on how my workouts are progressing (ie...am I able to increase weights, increase intensity, try out more advance workout moves...etc..)

I've always heard/read that if you have a goal of any kind, find people that have met that goal and find out what they did. Doesn't always mean that you imitate it completely because everyone is different, but it sure does help to reference how it's done.

I look around and I have met some people that are dreadfully unhappy with their bodies, hate that they don't have any energy to do things, hate that they can't buy clothing in regular stores- yet they do nothing about it. They have a sense that everything is out of their control...it's genes, I'm big boned, God loves me anyway, God would have changed me if I wasn't "meant" to be this way....etc....

I cannot follow that path. I have to believe that I have more control of my future than that. While I understand that the Lord does love me and provides for me daily, He also made me a person that could think and choose to try and live a healthier life. I have met some people that decided that for their lives and CHANGED!! I know it's hard to believe, but you should see the changes in some of these people. Why wouldn't that be an option for me?

So, in the end, I'm happy now, I still love and enjoy my life...but, I would like to prove to myself and I can change and that things can be different. Is that wrong?

My great friend, Grace, did point something out to me that I hadn't thought of; I have to make sure that this doesn't consume my life. While I want change for the future I'm not sure that I shouldn't be also living in the present. There needs to be a balance. Obsessing about being fat and obsessing about being thin are still obsessions and I'd like to stay away from that.

Does this make sense?

Good to see you Sun!!! But there's no need to blind....

2008-03-12T11:33:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I didn't work out in the morning. Simply, I just woke up and got lazy. I cleaned my kitchen instead.....BUT, I did work out after work to make up for it....Apparently, the gym is so positioned that the afternoon sun is virtually IN the gym blinding you every step of the way. It sucked, I definitely prefer working out in the morning....

Back and Abs...

Pulley Row 3x15 25lbs
Back Extensions 2x15 5lbs
Frog Kicks 3x20
Russian Twist 1x30 5lbs
Pulley Row Twist 2x20 (10 for each side) 25lbs
Hip Abduction 3x20 125lbs
Hip Adduction 3x20 130lbs

Interval Running 15minutes. - I've been ramping up the intensity of these runs (which is why you don't see the time changing all that much). I'd like to make it to the point of 18 minutes with my "running" being close to 90% during that interval. Right now, I'm probably at 70%....but I started out at 50%...so, I'm improving.

Last night, as with every Tuesday, Vlad and Dima were over and I made dinner while we just hung out, had a beer or two and chatted......due to that, I did NOT wake up this morning EITHER to work out....I don' know if I am going to start having to cut Tuesday's short at 10pm or just take Wednesdays off from now on....still working that out.

She told me her name was Billie Jean.....

2008-03-10T09:02:00.003-04:00

Last night I was channel surfing when I caught a show on MTV titled something like "America's Best Dance Crew".....anyway, it was a rerun and they were doing a tribute to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album. I don't think I've ever seen so much moonwalking or "tutting" in one 30 minute segment. BUT, it was great.....

I woke up this morning with "Billie Jean" stuck in my head.....

2x15 40lbs squats
2x10 30lbs walking lunges
2x12 15lbs bicep curls
2x12 22.5lbs tricep extensions
2x15 45lbs leg curls
2x12 10lbs lateral raises (this is the shoulder exercise that to which I didn't know the name!)
2x12 22.5 flat bench dumbell press (22.5lbs free weights in each hand)
2x30 russian twists
2x20 frog kicks

12 minutes running intervals.

Saturday.....

2008-03-08T12:47:00.001-05:00

So, it snowed something like 10-11 inches overnight on Friday. I woke up on Saturday and hoped and prayed that my gym would be closed due to the snow. Alas, when I called, a VERY unhappy girl answered the phone saying, "(sigh) yeah, we're open...."

So, I had to go.......grrrrr......

I usually work out before eating in the mornings during the week, so I thought I would do that on Saturday too....the difference was that in the week I work out within 30 minutes of waking up.....on Saturday I was awake for a WHILE before I actually went to work out....bad idea. My sugar was low and I just didn't have the strength to get through everything....lesson learned.

2x11 15lbs bicep curls

2x10 20 lbs tricep extensions

2x10 30lbs squats

2x10 10lbs arm raises? (this is when you are working out your shoulders by raising arms to your sides, shoulder height)- by the way, I've been doing this the whole time, just kept forgetting to put it down in the blog. I really need to take a notebook with me when I work out.

2x10 dragon flags....I either did these wrong or it's an exercise that is a little to advanced for me....Sunday I spent most of the day in bed due to my hips hurting so bad....I am pretty sure I lowered my legs too much, thus arching my lower back....

2x12 110lbs hip abductor machine

1x30 5lbs russian twist

1x15 frog kicks (trying these out and they are pretty easy on my hips and still pretty great on the lower abs....I think I'm going to keep these up.)

by the time I was done with these...my head hurt and I was feeling SUPER weak. So, I just went home.....again, next weekend, if I'm going to wait that long, I'm going to eat first! :)

oops....a correction....

2008-03-07T09:16:00.005-05:00

Alright, you know me. While I have been going the gym and stuff, I don't know what half of the exercises that I'm doing are called. Alex, thanks for tipping me off to the back extension and I have another correction....

Everytime that I said that I did reverse crunches, I was actually doing leg raises. Except I was a pansy and I was doing them with knees bent. Today, I actually did them with my legs extended and .....it's a big difference..... laughing tomorrow is going to be a task.

Also I did Russian Twists today....wow....

Okay, so today was just back and abs and more time spent on the treadmill with intervals.

Russian Twists (10lbs) 2x30 (you know, extending the arms with the weight makes it so much harder to control your momentum, this was a great exercise)
Back Extension (5lbs) 2x15
Pulley Row (20lbs) 3x15 (it's strange, I got a better workout at the 20lbs than I did at 30lbs)
Leg Raises 2x10....these were NOT easy!
Glute kicks 3x15 40lbs) (it's a weird machine that I just wanted to try out today...I don't think I'll be using it again...it's not so cool)
Running Intervals 16minutes!

Also, I've lost 2.5lbs this week. sweet!

What? Is that coffee I smell? It smells like heaven!!!!

2008-03-06T11:42:00.002-05:00

I have one of those coffee makers that you can program to brew at a certain time. So, now, everymorning around 505am, I smell the sweet smell of caffeine brewing. In the past, I've never DEPENDED on coffee for anything...until now. I can actually FEEL it waking me up after the first three or four sips. It's wonderful!
Yesterday I did NOT work out. As a matter of fact, when I woke up (smelling coffee) I jumped out of bed thinking that I was going to get ready to go to the gym and my legs were to angry at me to let me do that. So, I took the morning off and went back to sleep.....hmmmm, that felt good.
Anyway, this morning, after only 5 hours of sleep, I woke up and just kicked my butt into the gym. Let me tell you, it felt good!! I did a blend of both upper and lower body since I skipped out on yesterday...

2x15 (30lbs) squats
2x10 (30lbs) walking lunges (I think I pulled something in my butt while doing these, that's why I stuck to 10 instead of 15)
2x12 (15lbs) bicep curls
2x12 (20lbs) tricep extensions
2x12 (20lbs in each hand) press
2x15 (30lbs) the half squat-then-pulse dealio
2x20 (110 lbs) hip abductor
2x15 (30lbs) pulley row
1x5 clumsy attempts at the dragon flag
2x15 reverse crunches
1x30 russian twist with 5lbs

Running Intervals for 11minutes and I could have gone for longer but I REALLY had to get out of there and get ready for work.....

PITFALLS....so, I've been studying for my series 6 testing coming up next week and I was SUPER stressed yesterday. I studied at work till super late and then I came home and kept on going until around 1130pm......needless to say, my eating was NOT exercise friendly....I had a chicken sandwich from Dairy Queen that my wonderful boyfriend brought me AND we split one of those chocolate covered strawberry sundaes......jeez. talk about falling off the wagon.... anyway, today's another day...!

In like Flynn....is that how you even spell that?

2008-03-04T20:17:00.002-05:00

Alright, this is going to be quick because if I even THINK that I'm going to keep this up, I have to go to bed shortly....at the latest by 930pm....

I've been waking up at 515am for the past two mornings and going to the gym by my house that FINALLY opened (I signed up for this gym like 2months ago and they said that they would be done with construction Feb 1st!)

This is what I did Monday morning......I think that I was so excited to be working out at a gym with weights that I REALLY worked out my legs and I have to walk more slowly now, with more purpose, due to soreness..;-)

2x10 squats holding 30lbs
1x10 half squats( I think that's what you call it when you go halfway and pulse?) 30lbs
2x20 walking lunges- 30lbs
2x10 pully rowing machine -30lbs
2x20 twisted row (when you pull back only one arm and twist...then the other)
2x10 swimmers on the balance ball - only 5lbs
2x30 ab twists with 5lbs
2x15 reverse crunch....I'm going to try the dragon flags wednesday with bended knee, though.
Interval running of only 8 minutes- how cheesy is that!! I'll keep getting better at this.

TODAY I did.......- keep in mind that I was SORE!!!

2x15 tricep extensions w/15lbs
2x15 bicep curls w/15lbs
2x15 lateral raises with 10lbs
2x15 press 20lbs
2x15 lateral pull downs 70lbs
can't think the name of this exercise....it's a lower back exercise where you get on this inclined bench that stops at the hip and you bend forward and come back up.....anyway, I did 2x15 holding 5lbs.

no abs today, I actually got to the gym late, so everything had to go pretty quickly.

10 minutes of interval running (see? already a little better)

The past week....

2008-02-22T08:16:00.003-05:00

Since I started my new job, I've been really trying to work on getting my sleep and workout schedule ironed out so that I don't fall into the I-have-some-changes-in-my-life-so-I'll-forget-about-working-out-for-a-while-until-I-adjust syndrome.

So, here's what my mornings have looked like:

Monday- nothing....first day on a new job, I didn't sleep well and while I woke up super early....spent all my time picking out my darn outfit... stupid, I know.

Tuesday- 630am (waaaay to late to be doing this, I have learned)

Seated Row with resistance band (now I fold it over to give double the resistance)
2x8 reps
Oblique Twist (position of the seated row...but, you do one arm at a time as you twist)
2x8
Supermans (on the ball)
2x8 - planning on purchasing some free weights so that I can add some resistance to this exercise....for this morning, I just used 2.5 lbs ankle weights that I found.
Swimmers (on the ball with the ankle weights around my ankles this time)
3x8- again, really need some free weights

Abs- crunches, obliques and the "ball pass" crunch. (that's what I call transferring the ball back and forth from your feet to your hands...)
3x8 for each.

Then I did about 2 minutes of Burpee conditioning because I had no time to do anything else before showering and rushing to work.

Wednesday- 6am (this was a little better, but I should probably really be doing this at 530am....ugh)

Everything the same as above (it's basically my back and core workout that I have to do for my hip strengthening or just sitting at work hurts...) except I added about 2x4 minutes of jump rope.

Thursday-7am - nothing. (as you can see, I woke up late. So tonight is when I work out..)

but...I will be doing, lower body..

squats, lunges, glute squeezes, inner thigh AND the core workout because I'm feeling not working out this morning and not stretching.

AND....I really am going to try to kick up burpee conditioning to 3x2minute segments...

one more thing: my eating has not been phenomenal, frankly, not even mediocre.....BUT, by a sheer stroke of luck...I've lost 2 pounds this week so far.

Burpees....and Shadow Boxing...

2008-02-19T18:52:00.005-05:00

So, I was trying to figure out how I would be able to time myself for 30 seconds and I figured it out....

I just put a CD in my DVD player and since it counts the seconds and minutes of play, I was able to still look forward and see my time tick by..... I'm a genius! ;-)

Alright, now that I've broken my arm patting myself on the back.....to the Burpees and Shadow Boxing.

I am not in shape. I'm not sure if anyone of you missed that...but, dude, these kicked my tail!!

I did 2x 2 minutes of the burpees and shadow boxing, not the 4x2 that I intended...but,it's a start.

Basically, 30 seconds burpees (I was so bad that I couldn't do the ultimate burpee....just normal ones for me!) and 30 seconds of shadow boxing....I did that cycle twice.... rested about a minute (when the last minute of "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2 ended) and then did 2 more minutes.....

The burpees exhausted me and that was expected, but the shadow boxing wasn't a picnic either!! It was really engaging my abs and obliques and I had just finished a core workout on the stability ball prior so that my back and hips would be ready for the jumping because I was little tight after sitting all day today at work....

I'm such a girl. Still wearing the pearls I wore to work (yup, they're pink).

A Short

2008-02-19T13:37:00.002-05:00

Ummm, Alex, you are right. What DID happen to the burpee conditioning that I said that I was going to do? Well.......I was scared. That's what happened.

The good news??

I don't care if I'm so sore tomorrow that I cry...this is ridiculous!! What am I scare of?!? No more! Doing them tonight when I get off work!!

Let you all know how it goes.

Alex, thanks for keeping me accountable! By the way, I think Bam Bam is pretty darn awesome and she's so motivating!!

Jump Rope Sucks!!

2008-02-07T20:10:00.000-05:00

Alright, I'm going to list what I did tonight...keep in mind, when working with a balance ball and resistance band...most exercises are done together so there's no need to think that a lot of time was spent working out tonight. I DO still feel under the weather.

4 sets of 8 Leg Extensions (more of a balancing act.... you stand with your left foot on the balance ball, then you bend your right knee as you extend your left leg....then bring back....)
2 sets of 8 Overhead Press with Band- At the same time as the extensions
2x8 bicep curls with band- also at the same time as extensions.
2x8 chest press with band- done sitting on the ball while doing...
4x8 leg extensions- basically straightening out each leg as you do a rep.
2x8 criss cross press
2x8 seated tricep press
2x8 lat pull down
2x8 push ups, using balance ball - you roll on the ball until it's at your knees,shins or feet...(I do shins)
2x8 tricep push up, using the balance ball.
2x8 supermans
2x8 delt lifts - basically, instead of coming down from a superman, you stop midway and raise just one side.
2x8 body weight squats- all while doing....
2x8 bicep curls with ball....

Alright...so, all of this took about 20 minutes.....then I did some stretching (especially my back since the muscles are ALWAYS tight since hurting my hip) and went about trying to do this...

Jump Rope Conditioning:

6 sets of 3 minutes of jump roping..........ummm, I got 2 in and then I wanted to die. So, that's that. I'll try some more tomorrow. ;-)

soooooooooo......

2008-02-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

I've been feeling "under the weather" the past two days. Yesterday wasn't so bad because I normally don't work out on Wednesdays since I have Bible Study and stuff to go to and I'm out late.

But, last night, I barely slept due to stomach *issues* and when the alarm clock went off this morning- I just turned it off.

I feel a little better now, but super exhausted...I might take a small nap after work and then ...

PUMP.

IT.

UP.

I think if not tonight, tomorrow I'm starting Burpee Conditioning:

for starters: 4x2 minute rounds with 1 minute of rest in between

1 round= 30 second Ultimate Burpees, 30 seconds Shadow Boxing.

By the way, that's not me.....

2008-02-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

I actually start out my little routine with standing squats just holding the ball in front of me and I do lunges in the same fashion.

2 set of 10- standing squats
2 sets of 10- standing lunges
2 sets of 10- supermans
2 sets of 10- glute crunches (kind of like a super man, but just raising my legs while stabilizing myself on the ball)
2 sets of 10- hip extensions AND leg crunches (I combine them- they are shown seperately)
1 set of supermans
1 set of glute crunches
1 set of wall squats
1 set ball lunges
Core workout
rowing 2 sets of 10 with resistance band
rowing/obliques 2 sets of 10 with resistance band (it's when you row, then twist...)
ab workout.

I didn't do any jump roping or cardio cause I was lazy and afraid that the storm would take me away as I went to my workout center in my condo complex....

Wall Squat 1 and 2

Ball Lunge 1 and 2

Hip Extension 1 and 2

Leg Crunch 1 and 2

SuperMan 1 and 2

We might not be in Kansas anymore, Toto

2008-02-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

So, apparently, tonight there will be one hell of a storm, including hail and the possibility of a few tornadoes here and there...... sounds yummy.

I spent the evening dismantling my house looking for my freakin' flashlight to put in the emergency bag that my sister in law insisted that I put together. Once I decided that my flashlight was lost forever, I scoured the city for the LAST flashlight still for sale.... Then I finally came home and got everything ready.....only to find that I neither own a first aid kit nor do I have enough canned food to last me 3-5 days (I'm not a big fan of canned food....I ransacked my pantry and found one can of tuna). So, I'm seriously behind the eight ball here and my dog has a better chance of survival than I do. So, let's all put our hands together and pray that all we get is a sprinkling.....

moving along...

I still found time to workout tonight. It wasn't as hard because I wasted so much time roaming the city for the darn flashlight.....but,I wanted to show you my "workout room"....

I know, I know, it looks a lot like a living room, but do not be deceived! My small condo has more than enough room for a workout center! Oh.....who am I kidding? That's my living room and, so far, it's done a great job of being my workout room. My vaulted ceilings help me feel comfortable jump roping and that carpet is perfect for the balance ball workout. So.....there I was, finishing my workout with some ab exercises when the rain starts to pound down....

So, I quickly finished only to find that it ended just as quickly as it started and wasn't even part of the storm system that is threatening Kentuckiana.....so, now I sit and wait....

until tomorrow!

my first locomotion!!

2008-02-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

So, I've lost a total of 20 pounds and you can barely tell. That's crap. Now, that I've hit a plateau (and run the risk of gaining some of this back...) I've decided to hit it into high gear and start posting my "confessions"

Here, you will see all of my workouts AND when I fail. This will be my place to lay bare all of my failings and successes. Believe me, in the world of "workout", I tend to fail a lot more than succeed.

Well, here goes!!!