Archive for the Category »Fitness Friday «

How the time does fly when there are goals to reach. Somehow it is once again Fitness Friday.

(Actually it’s Thursday, but by the time you are reading this I will be all drugged up after having EIGHT teeth pulled, including my four wisdom teeth. Judging by the fact that two of the wisdom teeth are impacted, they want me UNCONSCIOUS for the extractions, and I need to pay for two rounds of anesthesia, I’m thinking I’m going to be seriously doped up tomorrow afternoon. I figured you’d prefer a coherent post. Ok, odds are you’d prefer the drugged out of mind post, but whatever. This is what you get.)

Anyway, it’s been a pretty low key week with all the preparations for the surgery. (My desk currently looks like a pharmacy. I’m beginning to feel a little freaked out.) Between coordinating a driver to safely transport me home from surgery (by the way friends and family, thanks for being all “Not it!” about it), making sure I have mush in the fridge to eat once I have no teeth, and figuring out which of these pills I’m supposed to be taking when, did I actually attempt any of my fitness goals?

Goal #1: I will change up my workout routine. Although I’ve recently added in the yoga, I’ve been doing the same stuff at the gym for over a year now. It’s time I put together a new routine to challenge my body.

Achieved? I guess technically not going to the gym at all counts, but that’s not what I had in mind when I set this goal. I have been looking at a few fitness sites to try to find a good overall body toning workout. I’ve also decided that it’s time to branch out from the elliptical machine to the treadmill and stationary bikes. But honestly, I’ve gone home and crashed every day this week. Sometimes sleep is more necessary than exercise.

(I did go running on Sunday and did Monday Night Yoga, so I wasn’t a total slug.)

Goal #2: I will attempt to better control portion sizes at meals. Thanks to my mom, whatever you put on my plate I feel obligated to finish and the Captain puts a lot of food on our plates. All that exercising isn’t going to do a damn bit of good if I’m always devouring dinner like it’s my last meal. If I’m really that hungry, then I can go back for seconds.

Achieved. I’ve been using smaller plates for lunch since I have a tendency to fill up whatever real estate is open. The Captain has been reducing portion size at dinner as well. Not too surprisingly, we aren’t still hungry when we finish what’s on our plates.

Goal #3: I will attempt to jog a mile. For reals. I do more distance than that any time I’m on the elliptical, so I’m hoping I can run around a track without fainting.

Achieved. Hell yeah.

Now, with all this eating healthy and exercising and drinking water and sleeping eight hours a night and taking my vitamins, you’d expect me to have tons of energy right? But no. I’m always freaken exhausted. It’s nothing medical (according to my recent blood tests), so I have to consider other possibilities. Which brings me to my goals for the coming week:

1. Per my fitness fanatic friend’s advice, I will attempt to figure out what kind of food my metabolism requires to function properly. She seems to think my love of carbs could be to blame for my sleepiness.

2. I will attempt to snack on protein-rich foods after my workouts. Above mentioned friend also informed me that this is necessary to keep my muscles happy.

3. If needed, I will cut myself some slack on the exercising and healthy eating because I’ll probably feel like hell for at least part of the week and won’t be able to eat anything much harder than pudding for awhile. I will not take the week off, however.

As always, anyone can pick up Fitness Fridays with me. If you plan to participate this week, here’s what to do:

First, choose three goals for yourself that are reasonably challenging, yet attainable. Goals can be anything from “taking the stairs instead of the elevator” to “completing this weekend’s marathon.” Whatever is right for you. Fitness goals can also include eating smarter or getting an adequate amount of sleep. Basically anything that makes you a healthier you.

Once you’ve thought of your goals, post them on your blog so you are accountable to work on them over the next week. If you don’t have a blog, write them down on paper and post them on your wall, fridge, etc.

Finally, let other participants know about your goals so we can offer encouragement and congrats as you make progress.

Current Fitness Fridays participants include:

Jewelz

Iasa

That’s it for me. I hope you are looking forward to a better week than mine. I wonder if shaking the instant pudding counts as exercise.

Until next week . . .

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao-tzu

Helloooooo weekend! Is it just me or do “short” weeks sometimes seem longer than regular weeks? Either way, it is once again Fitness Friday. 

As I look back at my progress over the week, I’m a little disappointed in myself. I’ve been really out of sorts lately and it’s translated to lack of energy and enthusiasm for my fitness program. I hope that I can shake off the sleepiness and rev myself up for a better week this round.

So, did I meet my goals?

Goal #1: Despite the holiday weekend, I will keep up with my goal of exercising three or more times in the next week so getting fit becomes part of my regular routine.

Achieved. Just barely. I did make it to the gym Tuesday, Wednesday, and yesterday for 40 – 45 minute workouts, but boy are good habits hard to maintain.

Goal #2: I will work on those push ups and attempt to perfect my form to the Captain’s satisfaction.

Still in progress. The push ups are slow going. Getting my nose to the floor is something I’m apparently not strong enough to do. The Captain is focused on getting me to execute one perfect push up. I’m beginning to think I’m better off doing as many as I can going as low as I can now and I should try to get my nose to the floor as I get stronger. Isn’t it better to do ten almost there push ups instead of just one that meets the standard?

Goal #3: I will work on my abs for at least five minutes every day.

Achieved. Sort of. I did work on my abs every day, but I know I could have done way more than I did. It was a crampy kind of week so I didn’t push myself very hard. On a positive note, I have been much better about remembering to exercise my obliques. Love handles? What love handles?

Overall I wouldn’t give myself a grand huzzah, but I’m pleased that I’m trying to stick to my plan and haven’t blown off exercise altogether yet.

Which means it’s time for some new baby steps to a kick ass body:

1. I will expand upon my three workouts a week pattern. Whether I add a little strength training at lunchtime or tack on a whole extra workout, I don’t want to have too many inactive days in a row.

2. I will keep up with those damn push ups. When I finally reach this goal, I so deserve a prize.

3. I will fit in a yoga day. Lord knows I need to center myself. Due to appointments and the holiday, I haven’t done yoga in almost three weeks. This could potentially become my “extra” workout for the week.

As always, anyone can pick up Fitness Fridays with me. If you plan to participate this week, here’s what to do:

First, choose three goals for yourself that are reasonably challenging, yet attainable. Goals can be anything from “taking the stairs instead of the elevator” to “completing this weekend’s marathon.” Whatever is right for you. Fitness goals can also include eating smarter or getting an adequate amount of sleep. Basically anything that makes you a healthier you.

Once you’ve thought of your goals, post them on your blog so you are accountable to work on them over the next week. If you don’t have a blog, write them down on paper and post them on your wall, fridge, etc.

Finally, let other participants know about your goals so we can offer encouragement and congrats as you make progress. Last week Jewelz and Iasa got on the bandwagon. I can’t wait to see how they’re doing!

Now it’s about time I do something particularly important to my health and well being – RELAX.

Until next week . . .

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  ~ Lao-tzu