Whoa, That's a lot of Cardio!

Yesterday was supposed to be strictly cardio, so that's what I did.  At the beginning of this year my New Year's resolution/goal was to try a new food and a new exercise, activity, or fitness class every month.  I started out well, but eventually I got away from it.  I remembered that resolution on Monday and decided to do something about it before the end of July.  I don't think I'm going to make the new food this month.  I did try a new class though.

I decided to try a spin class for the first time.  When I went in I could automatically tell these ladies have been going for awhile and are pretty close knit.  They were very welcoming though.  They seemed quite happy to have a newbie.  They told me to just go at my own pace, and they warned me that my bottom would be sore.  When the instructor came in she adjusted my bike for me, and we got started.  It honestly wasn't too too bad.  45 minutes in and I was spent though.  Thank the Lord it was only a 50 min class lol!  They were right about that seat.  It did not take long for my bum to hurt.  I was thankful for the times we were told to stand up.  I don't know what I expected, but it was an arm and leg workout, because of all the standing up and leaning forward.  Like I said, it wasn't too bad though.  I would go again.

After spin class I went jogging.  I moved up in intervals this week.  I went from jogging 1 min and walking 2 min to jogging 1 min, walking 1 min, jogging 3 min, walking 3 min.  I kept cycling that for about 20 min.  I completed 1.4 miles in 19:49, which is a little faster that last week, but not by much.  To be honest, I would love to be faster, but my #1 goal is to be able to jog a 5k in its entirety.  After I can do that, I would like to jog a 5k under 40 minutes.  I know if I keep jogging, I'll get there eventually.  When I tried this last year I made it to the point where I was jogging 30 minutes nonstop, and then I quite.  So, I know I can do it.  I just have to keep working out.  Yesterday's jog started out a little rough.  My legs felt heavy from the spin class.  As I got into jogging the 1st 3 minutes, things started to get back to normal though.  I did notice that I walked slower during the walking breaks.  I'm still pleased that I finished my session with no major problems and I didn't quit.  Go Me!

After the jog, it was 9:55 and my zumba class starts at 10.  So, although it was not in my plans, I decided to go to zumba.  I finished the class, but I definitely did not have my normal amount of energy.  It was rough.  I was definitely tired from the new class and the jog.  All totaled I did over 2 hrs of cardio yesterday.  I was worn out!  looking back, it doesn't seem that bad, but I know how I felt yesterday and I was exhausted when I got home.  I probably will not do that much cardio again anytime soon lol!  It was good to push myself though.

M.O.P. feat Busta Rhymes - Ante Up  *Warning Explicit Lyrics*

Finding A Groove

I'm starting to feel alright about working out.  First, I'll tell you what I've done since my last blog. 

Friday:  I don't think I did any exercise.  If I did, I don't remember what it was.
Saturday: 1 hr of zumba
Sunday: 1:2 jogging interval for 20 minutes (1.33 miles)
              Leg press 90 lbs 3x12
              Squats (body weight) 3x12
              Rotary Calf Machine 70 lbs 3x15
              Leg Extension 50 lbs 3x12
Today:  DB Chest Press 12 lb db 3x12
             Modified Push-Ups 3x12
             Tricep Pushdowns 30 lbs 3x12
             Lateral Raises 5 lb db 3x8
             Front Raise 5 lb db 3x8
             Elliptical for 20 min

Zumba is always fun, and I'll do it pretty much any time I can.  You just dance, who would not love that.  Plus, I love Latin music, and from what I hear 60% of any zumba class should be Latin music.  I also love weights.  I hate the soreness that follows, but I love using weights.  My problem always comes with cardio and eating well.  I don't know why, but I just hate cardio.  It was such a problem for me to stay on the elliptical.  I originally planned to do 30 min, but I was bored and just didn't want to, so I bailed after 20 min.  My gym used to have an Arctrainer.  I loved that machine and it made getting in cardio much easier.  About a month ago they got rid of them and bought new ellipticals.  I wish I could have afforded to buy them from my gym, but they wanted $2000...yeah...no thank you.  I remember getting to the point where I really enjoyed running.  I'm hoping to get to that point again really soon.  This week will start a new set of intervals for me.  I'm looking at the C25k plan and tweaking it for me and what I feel comfortable doing.  I'll be sure to come back and post what I decided to do tomorrow.

The soreness from Thursdays leg session was pretty intense.  Those deadlifts were something serious lol!  Deadlifts are one of my favorite exercises, but I have always been using pretty light weights (normally 20 lbs because I only have 10 lb db at home).  So, jumping up to a total of 40 lbs gave my hamstrings a shock.  It was pretty easy to do, but the soreness said otherwise lol!  I can still feel the soreness when I stretch.  Shockingly, I feel no soreness at all from Sunday.  I would normally have sore quads and calves, but so far...nothing.  I did cheat a little on Sunday, because I was sore from Thursday.  So, I did not use any weights for squats, and I halved the weight on the leg press.  I'll pick it back up next time. 

I guess the bottom line is that I am feeling alright, and I feel like I am finding my groove.  I know I can work harder, and hopefully I will this week.  I'm just happy to be active again.

I know it's weird, but this song pumps me up lol!
Phil Collins - Sussudio

Slowly but Surely

On Monday I went jogging.  Well, I am doing jogging/walking intervals.  This week I am at a 1 min jog 2 min walk.  I completed 2 miles Monday with a time of 30:29.  It wasn't too bad.  It was actually a lot better than I thought it would be considering I haven't done anything in so long.

Today I went to the gym and did lower body weights.  I also repeated Monday 1:2 interval.  I jogged 1.4 miles in 20:28.  To be honest, it started out pretty awful, but got better as I went along.

In the weight room:
Leg Curls 70 lbs 3x12
Pop Squats 3x12
Swinging Lunges 3x12
Walking Lunges 3x10
Deadlifts 40 lbs 3x12
Butt Machine 30 lbs 3x6
Standing Calf Raises

Today's Song
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl

Getting Back at It

Wow!  I cannot believe it has been well over a year since my last post.  I knew I had not posted in awhile, but I had no idea it has been quite so long.  Needless to say, I have had good and bad moments in my fitness journey.  Honestly, most of them have been pretty poor moments.  Last fall I did really well, then I had a nice fitness spurt in Feb/March and again in June.  Other than that I fell back into old habits of laziness and eating junk.  I don't have my measurements with me right now, but I come back and add them in tomorrow.  I have gained 7 lbs since my last posted weigh-in in March 2012.  I just really want to finally get things under control. 

I have made the promise to get back active beginning tomorrow.  It's currently midnight and I'm at work, so that's why I am not starting immediately.  I have a program that I think I want to use on Fitness Rx for Women.  Here's the link to the workout plan.  I used it off and on when I was working out towards the beginning of June and I really liked it.  I love weights though, so it wasn't that hard to force myself to do it.  For cardio I'll do zumba, the elliptical, or jogging (intervals).

I really don't have too much more to say right now...just that I know I need to change.  My body gets uncomfortable at a certain point and I can feel it right now.  I'm going to continue posting songs that I love working out to.  I'm excited to be getting back at it!

Get Lucky - Daft Punk
I like to use this when I'm getting warmed up.  It just makes me happy!