Selfie!

Just because today is Memorial Day I didn't want to let anything get in the way of my workout. Yes, I think it's safe to say I've gotten into the swing of things and have (re)started my healthy habit of working out daily.

Have I missed a workout here and there? Yes. Have I cheated with my nutrition? Yup. Have I allowed it to derail me? No. 

Today, after a 10 minute walking warmup ( 0.53 miles), I did three rounds of:

25 kb swings (20#)

25 jump squats

25 push-ups

25 squats on the bosu

I got sweaty and I drank a lot of water (always a good sign for my workouts). I had to take breaks between some exercises. I felt it went by pretty quickly with having my iPod playing, though I probably should have done one more round. Overall I'm proud I didn't allow having the kids out of school for the holiday be an excuse for missing a workout! Yay for small victories!

I do believe, however, that I am the type that needs a trainer. Did I workout today?  Yes. Was it a great workout? No, it was just... Eh. Would a trainer have pushed me to do that one more round? Of course! It's like they almost know me better than I know myself in that sense, that they can tell I've for juuuuust a little bit more gas on the tank. So... Working out on my own versus REALLY being pushed? There really is no comparison. Am I surprised? Nope!

With a vacation coming up, I'm going to try to see if there's any way I can stay on my workout routine. It may be at the hotel, it may be at the local Anytime Fitness (yay for access to ANY AF gym), but who knows! I know I'll be making the best nutrition choices I can and regardless of how the trip goes? I'll be back on my workout routine as soon as I get back. Period. No excuses. 

Just'a Butt Kickin'!

This morning's workout was good.  Justa' big ole bag a butt kickin'!  Haha!

Seriously, warming up with moderate sprints, lots of reps (between 5-20) and sets.  Working every muscle to exhaustion.  Dripping sweat and feeling SO good!  After Wednesday's mentally difficult workout, and last Friday's difficult workout, today was like night and day.  Even though my muscles were begging me to stop, they were listening to me unlike Wednesday and last Friday when they wouldn't.  They were ready for a break, but I still tried to push through.

Anyway, today's finally FRIDAY!  Yay!  After the last seven days, it feels like a new start to a new week.  LOL!

I've continued to shifting my nutrition to decrease my carb intake, which has been key in the past, and so far I'm doing pretty well with getting over the sugar cravings.  This past weekend I sort of went crazy with them, kind of like I had to purge myself of them or something?  I don't really feel the need to feed the sweet tooth, but when I do, it's still something pretty low-carb.

That nutritional shift is the ticket.  It's the difference between just hard work and hard work that gets results.  And that's not something you can get from magic shakes or pills or extreme diets.  Do the shakes and pills and diets work?  Yes, they do, until you go back to the real world after losing the weight.  Then, the weight comes back on.  Then you have to diet again.  Like a carousel, around and around, up and down...  That, in a nutshell, is the definition of yo-yo dieting.  Making a true lifestyle change is where it's at.  Stop dieting and start living a healthy, more satisfying life!

A Walk In The Park!

Cardio today was a walk in the park. A very hilly park at that!

Treadmill, incline set between 3.0 and 10.0, 174 cals burned, 1.77 miles in 30 min, 3.8 mph except for the cool down. 

Dripping with sweat and feeling pretty dang good!  

I had my measurements done and I've lost another half of an inch on my waist. I must be getting closer to where I need to be with the numbers slowly changing. No complaints! Weighed this morning and am down two pounds since yesterday. So I'm guessing I was holding onto some water weight from this weekend, before I decided to really focus on lowering my carb intake. 

All In My Head...

This morning's workout was rough.

Like, I wanted to quit kind of rough.

I mean, the exercises and trainer were GREAT as always, but... my head just wasn't in the game and it caused me to have a huge mental block.  I couldn't will my body to do what I wanted it to do.  What it NEEDED to do.  And I pushed.  HARD.  It was very frustrating and about 10 minutes into the workout I just wanted to throw in the towel and leave.

Terrible!

I pushed through the frustration, frustration that had turned into anger by the end of the workout, but I didn't like it.  I'm not sure exactly what it was that triggered it.  I mean, I think I know, but am not quite sure.  It was likely a series of things--a lot of stuff on my mind, seeing results but wanting to see even more, not eating properly last night, Monday's workout pre-exhausting my muscles...

On a much lighter note, I can definitely feel everything tightening up.  My clothes are fitting so much better.  My energy level is so much higher in general.  I've noticed that I can move more easily in my regular day-to-day activities.  I can easily swoop down and tie my shoes without having to take a deep breath now.  Haha!  Sometimes it's just the little things, right?!

I'm due to get measurements this week.  I'm hopeful that I've made some changes with as hard as I've been working out.

I AM adjusting my nutrition and that could be some of it.  Sugar is addictive.  Evil.  And I could simply be going through some withdrawal from that...  I dunno.  I DO know that I am NOT going to let one bad workout ruin my week.  It's behind me now and the next workout will be better.  Period.  I won't accept anything less and I won't stop.  Stopping won't help anything.  Stopping will not help me reach my goals.

Just like everyone else, I wish I was already 6 months down the road in seeing my results.  I want to see results NOW!!!  (Patience has never been my strong suit as my kids can attest!)

Anyway...  While I'm waiting for my awesome, fitness model results to start being much more evident (yeah right!), I'm just going to keep plugging on along!

Been a little while...

I've been crazy busy for the past two weeks, but am very proud to say that I never missed a workout!  My nutrition wasn't all that great over the weekend, but that's all been reigned in and I didn't allow it to throw me off track for any longer than that.

I definitely didn't feel like going out the door this morning--I was cuddling on the couch with my pups--, but once I got out and got to the gym? It was all good! I had planned on hitting the elliptical, but felt inspired to do some sprints on the treadmill instead. I'm really glad I did, too! It was pretty tough but I pushed through it and ended up having a great workout!

Treadmill, speed interval setting, 25 mins total (5 min walking warm up and 5 min cool down, so only 15 min of sprints), 1.89 miles, 187 calories.

I'm due to be measured again at the end of this week and am cautiously optimistic that I'll be seeing some more positive changes. Nutritionally, I've shifted to eating fewer carbs, so that should help somewhat.  I've found myself making an excuse for eating extra bread and chips lately, so I've cut back on buying them because I can't stand the temptation being around me like that!  Haha!  Everybody's got their thing, and now you know mine!  I think you just have to figure out what your sticking point is and hit it head on, you know?

Cardio

Feeling some shin splints coming on so I scaled back a bit. Definitely need to replace my old running shoes because these street shoes aren't cutting it.

30 min, hill setting, 2.05 miles, 223 cals burned

Cardio?!

In attempted to run sprints today, but with my iPod being dead and having the long cords coming off of my iPhone, I had to change the plan. I was able to get in two minute-long sprits before the flapping earbud cords got the best of me. Am I the only one that drives crazy?!

Ended up staying on the treadmill, hill setting, between 5 and 13 incline, speeds between 3.0 and 3.4. I'm still sweating pretty good and it definitely it my heart rate up... 5 min warm up, 20 hard minutes, 5 min cool down, 1.68 miles, 194 cals burned.

Phew! The iPod will be charged and ready to go for Thursday, and I plan on killing it!

Wednesday Workout and Thursday Cardio!

Yesterday's training session was awesome! Lots of body weight exercises, i think the count was 600 reps? Oy!

Today's cardio was on a stationary bike, 35 min, 8.85 miles, 223 cals. My shins are feeling the sprints I did Tuesday and the workout from yesterday, so no running today... Feeling the burn in my legs and bum!