My Favorite Class

Day 14: 

Still feeling under the weather.  Thought my head might explode today*, but I headed to the gym anyway.  Yay Me!  This is my favorite class all week, so that is some motivation.  

The class was packed this morning.  Luckily you only need enough space for your equipment and to lift without hitting anyone.

My muscles were quite fatigued when we finished and started on the abs.  During each rest period, I was seconds away from falling asleep on the mat.  I was that tired. And my sick body is screaming, REST!  

So I will.  I will take a nap this afternoon. 

And take tomorrow off.  And get back to the gym on Thursday. 

**Note:  My head didn't actually explode.

It's Early

Day 13: Spin

It was an early, whiny morning because I am starting to get sick. I am going with the advice that if it is above the shoulders, you can work out and if it is below, stay home.  Well, it's all in my head, so off to the gym I went. And that's all I have to say about that.

Nope.

Day 12:  Not my favorite.

Due to the snow day we had here on Wednesday, this week's schedules were all shifted to the right.  That meant I didn't have time for the lunchtime Express Pump class today.  Additionally, my gym buddy wanted to try out something new.

Hence, the foray back to Zumba.  I have gone to a few Zumba classes in the past.  I just really don't think it is my thing.  But I went anyway.

I got my workout in today.

Next time, gym buddy can take Zumba and I will head to the treadmill.  

Yes, I would rather be on the treadmill than shaking it in Zumba.

Do you Zumba?  

This One Hurts

Day 11:  Pump and Pilates

I chose sore. Again.

This Tuesday class is a really great class.  75 minutes of lifting and abs.  Lots of reps.  I know after each class that I used my muscles, that I got a good workout, and that I will be sore.

Even after only going to this class a few times, I can already mark improvements.  I have upped my weight for a few of the exercises.  And I definitely felt it today.  

The abs, as always, killed me.  But I think I did a little better today.  

And that's the point.

Rockin' It!

Day 10:  Great class this morning!

Please ignore the missing
apostrophe.
It's working.

I don't know if it was the more reasonable time (8:00AM instead of 6:00AM) or if it was the new instructor, but today Spin was really fun.  And a great workout.

To begin with, the instructor, Kim, came around and made sure everyone's bikes were set up correctly.  Mine needed a few tweaks.  She raised the seat a notch and moved the seat and handlebars a little closer together.   Now I know when that I set up my bike my numbers are 10-8-8-STOP.

Secondly, she was very fun and motivating.  I hit all the RPMs for the entire class.  I put load on for hills and the "quicksand."  I enjoyed the sweat.

Gym buddy agrees with me.  We may be switching to Kim's 5:00PM class on Monday's and Wednesday's.

Really glad I went this morning.

Short and Sweet

Day 9:  Express Pump.

             Done.

I don't want to go!

Day 8:  Today proved the benefits of having a gym buddy.  I really didn't want to go this morning.  I slept very poorly last night (if at all). So when the alarm went off at 5:00 this morning, more than anything, I wanted to roll over and stay in bed.  But I knew Moira would be waiting for me to pick her up.  So I got up and went through the motions of getting ready.  Luckily, I had laid out my gym clothes and shoes last night.  I was out the door, ready to pick her up.  There was a slight delay since I unexpectedly had to scrape the ice off the windshield.  

We were on our way!

But someone had my bike. I've gone more than once, so I feel a certain proprietary right to the bike.  Since I am not completely crazy, I just took the next available bike, but I may have whined about it.  Once or twice.

Then I got on the bike.  And I considered my job done. I obviously took a different route than the other bikers.  They took a very hilly route.  I rode on a flatter course.  

But I went. 

How do you get out the door on days you really don't want to?

Still Going . . .

Day 7:  Pump & Pilates

This class is a killer.  I am slowly adding weight on to the bar.  My muscles are jelly when I leave this class. 

The abs portion KILLS me.  Supermans were the easiest part. 

But I went.

Spin tomorrow morning.

**This is a really short post because I can't write today.

This Again?

Day 6:  In the New World Order, Monday's are Boot Camp day.

This is not my favorite class.  It is 45 second intervals, broken up by 5 minutes of area specific weights.  Today was shoulders and lunges.  The intervals were pretty similar to last week, with the addition of running the stairs.  Up and down 3 times.  This was way harder than it should have been.

The gym stairs may or may not have been this long.

We also did burpees, mountain climbers, traveling push-ups on Bosu balls.  Basically, all the exercises that hurt my wrists.  I have googled ways to lessen the pain when my wrists are in push-up, plank, downward dog, and similar positions.  The most hopeful looks like massage and stretching.  I am working on  it, but this problem has been going on for so long, I will be happy with even small improvements.  For some of the exercises I was also able to use dumbbells so I wasn't putting pressure on my wrists.

Then, the abs.  Oh, the planks.  This was not my best moment.  The instructor may have called me a quitter.  (It is possible she was just being motivating.)  This part is going to get easier, right?

Tomorrow it is back to Pump and Pilates.  The instructor, Mark, said he has saved me a spot up front. Gulp.

Do push-ups hurt your wrists?  How have you dealt with this?

Spin Again

Day 5:  8:00 AM Spin class!

Another successful trip to the gym.  And by successful, I mean that I went. Keep the bar low.  I want to make sure I have room to improve. (Tongue firmly in cheek).

Today's spin class was at a much better time.  And the numbers proved it.  Every bike was filled. I am glad we got there early enough to snag one.  Imagine my disappointment if I hadn't been able to get on the torture machine.

But seriously, I did better today.  The first spin class is always a testing ground.  I just want to stay on the bike for the entire class.  And not die.  After Wednesday's foray back to biking, I was ready to take it up a notch today.  My tension on the wheel was higher and my rpm's were higher.  I actually got into the sprint range that the instructor asked us to aim for.

My gym buddy and I were separated by another biker, so the snark factor was much lower today.  Too bad.  I enjoy the snark.

Today's workout was another one to add to the log book for the "Making Your Way Across America" challenge.  The aim is to work out 4 times a week for at least 45 minutes each time for a total of 40 workouts over the course of the program.  Additionally, there are some pit stop challenges along the way that I will talk about as I complete them. 

Today was workout number five.  I was glad to find that even though it was my fifth workout this week, it still counted toward the challenge.  Four times a week is the goal, but 40 is the magic number.

Do you exercise on the weekends?

Express Pump

Day 4:  Express Pump

A Friday lunchtime class?  Almost perfect. Why almost?  

I got a lot accomplished this morning before class.  I wrote the school newsletter, did laundry, made beds, organized a birthday party, picked up a few things around the house, and met friends for coffee and a veggie omelette. 

I was back in time to swing by and pick up my gym buddy, Moira, and head across the bridge.

Express Pump was pretty much exactly what it said it was going to be:  a fast class to get you in, sweaty, and back out again.  It caters to the lunchtime workout crowd.

This class was the same as the Tuesday Pump class minus a couple of segments (lunges and abs this week) so it would fit in the time frame.

For an idea of what the class is about, check out this video on the Body Pump Website.

Those are the moves, I just use a lot less weight.  For now.

After class, we stopped at the store to pick up a few items and then went our separate ways.  I have been cleaning and driving kids around since I got back. I still haven't showered.

And that is why it is "almost" perfect.  When I work out later in the day, the day just gets away from me. 

So now, this post is written, dinner is in the oven, and I am off to finally get my shower.

On tomorrow's agenda:  8:00 AM Spin Class

When is your favorite time to work out?

Day Three

Torture Machine

Day 3:  6:00AM Spin is no joke in 9° weather.  

Luckily I had someone with me to share in the misery.

But it has been a long day, and now EVERY part of my body hurts.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting.  It is a rest day.  I need it.

Good night.

I've Got A Streak Going Now

Day 2:  I made it back to the gym!  I even dragged someone with me. Hilarity ensued.

That I even made it to the gym today was pretty amazing.  The wind chill was -10°.  I did a fairly good job bundling up, but my ankles were freezing.  Once I got inside the gym, my ears started to thaw.  I couldn't tell they were frozen because they were numb, but that was a fun way to start the class, Body Pump (or something like that).

Then it was time to gather all of the equipment.  Body Pump needs a lot of equipment:

• step with two risers
• barbell (2)
• extra weights
• dumbbells (different weights)
• yoga mat
• floor mat
• towel
• water bottle

So now I was ready to go.  Grab the barbell and weights for the warm-up and go.

Great.  I have five pounds on the bar and my arms are already starting to feel a little like Jello.

The class was actually pretty good.  The instructor, Mark, was great.  I enjoyed his style.  He clearly explained each exercise and was easy to follow.

What wasn't so great was how my muscles cried during the exercises.  I mentioned yesterday that I hadn't felt very in shape since I had run the Newport Half back in 2012?  Well, even when I was running a lot, I wasn't doing any lifting.  So who knows how long it had been since my muscles did something like this.

I kept up pretty well.  I dialed the weight way back.  Sometimes I used only the barbell without any weights.  On one exercise, I didn't even use the barbell.  

Things got funny when we laid down to begin the ab workout. I was so happy that we were actually going to lay down!  Then we started on lower abs.  I do not have lower abs.  I am convinced that when they cut me open to deliver my last child, they removed my lower abdominals.  I lifted my legs and flopped around, but it didn't really look like anyone else's movements.  This part never seemed to end.  My partner in crime seemed to be having similar issues.  We lay prostrate and laughed.  Even  Mark coming to the back of the room to "help us out" didn't improve my results.  This is definitely an area I need to work on.

After class, we walked down the stairs on wobbly legs.  I KNOW I am going to be super sore tomorrow.  Both sitting and standing are going to be problematic.  I may not have the use of my arms.

Boy, I hope so!

I am picking up my gym buddy tomorrow morning at 5:30 for Spin.

Anyone else going to be sore tomorrow?

Making My Way Across America . . .Or At Least Out of Newport

Day 1:  I went back to Boot Camp.  Let me tell you.  It was nothing like I remember boot camp.  That boot camp was running, push-ups, and sit-ups. And a lot of yelling.

This boot camp was stations: weights, kettle bells, burpees (which weren't even a thing when I went to boot camp), jumping, lungeing, planking, sweating, dying. And loud music.

Seemed like a good class.  The instructor was informative, energetic, and not annoyingly peppy.  The circuit went in 45 second intervals, with blocks of weight exercises in between.  And the music was good.

I started out strong and faded quickly.  I am just really that out of shape.  I was wearing my 2012 Newport Half Marathon t-shirt and I am pretty sure that was the last time I really felt like I was in shape.  I was also wearing my super comfy yoga pants that were made for yoga poses.  Not jumping and running.  I spent quite a bit of time hiking my pants up.  Made me look extra cool.

As the class progressed my repetitions got slower and slower.  The thought running through my mind, besides "Are we done yet?" was that I actually needed to come back to the gym  and it would be a good idea if I could actually move my arms and legs tomorrow. 

Then relief as we moved to the abs portion and I thought I would be able to lie down. Nope.  All planks.  And the weird twisty, arms and legs going different directions kind of planks.  Umm. I did a modified version. 

All in all, success.  I went to the gym.  I signed up for the "Make Your Way Across America Challenge" and I am hopeful that I will make it out of Rhode Island this year.

What did you do today?

What Works, What Doesn't

It's tempting and all too common to start off each new year with a list of resolutions.  I will do this, I won't do that.  I would venture to guess that we have all done it.  And I am just as guilty.  And not completely immune to it this year either.

Remember the resolution to keep a daily journal?  I have drawers full of journals that all start out the same way.  Lists of things to accomplish in the coming year.  And I know a lot of those lists have the same items on them. Do this. Don't do that.

No journal this year. No lists. 

I am, however, taking a look back.  What worked when I felt great.  What was I doing when I felt like crap.  Do this, don't do that. Keep it simple.

The good thing about looking back like this, is it's a simple path going forward.  I've done it before and I can do it again.

Do you make New Year's resolutions?  What works for you?

Happy New Year

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