Before I head off for an early morning meeting, thought I would share Day 11 challenge. It looks like a good one!
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 11 - 20 second Plank plus 15 second side plank, each side, 40 sit ups, 50 crunches, 65 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Middle of the week...
You may have guessed by my abbreviated post yesterday that it was a crazy morning and you would have been right. Things are crazy at work right now. I am glad that I have my workout time to help me decompress. I know that my morning workouts fuel me for the day and the evening ones allow me to recenter for the evening.
Yesterday was a good workout day and good eating day too (lots of yumminess). Morning was a toning class - we used the large workout balls that you sit on for the whole class, only we didn't sit on them, we moved them around over our head as we turned and lunged and bent. And we used them on the ground as we did squats and lifts squeezing our legs together to hold them in place. We did do some work while sitting on them, in the form of crunches. Last night I did week 3, day 3 of the Couch 2 5K workout. Plus, I added some additional distance - I wound up doing 3 miles and including warm up and cool down was at 39 minutes. Considering that much of the C25K is walking (more than half), it makes me feel good. Then, I came home and did my side plank for Day 9. I do hope that if nothing else, by the end, I can get to a point where when we do the planks in class, I am able to hold it the full time and add in the extra lifts and such that the instructor does.
So, I mentioned good food too. At lunch, I had a harvest wedge salad with a white balsamic dressing. There is something about apples, bacon and cheese together that is so good. With it, we had this vegetable and winter grain soup that was warm and satisfying on a rather cool day. Dinner was turkey roast, pierogie and green beans. Yum!
Today was spinning. I am a little stiff today and my arms, although not sore are very heavy feeling from yesterday's workout. Tonight is a another session of Bokwa and Day 10 of the 30 Day Challenge.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 10 - 35 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 10 crunches, 25 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yesterday was a good workout day and good eating day too (lots of yumminess). Morning was a toning class - we used the large workout balls that you sit on for the whole class, only we didn't sit on them, we moved them around over our head as we turned and lunged and bent. And we used them on the ground as we did squats and lifts squeezing our legs together to hold them in place. We did do some work while sitting on them, in the form of crunches. Last night I did week 3, day 3 of the Couch 2 5K workout. Plus, I added some additional distance - I wound up doing 3 miles and including warm up and cool down was at 39 minutes. Considering that much of the C25K is walking (more than half), it makes me feel good. Then, I came home and did my side plank for Day 9. I do hope that if nothing else, by the end, I can get to a point where when we do the planks in class, I am able to hold it the full time and add in the extra lifts and such that the instructor does.
So, I mentioned good food too. At lunch, I had a harvest wedge salad with a white balsamic dressing. There is something about apples, bacon and cheese together that is so good. With it, we had this vegetable and winter grain soup that was warm and satisfying on a rather cool day. Dinner was turkey roast, pierogie and green beans. Yum!
Today was spinning. I am a little stiff today and my arms, although not sore are very heavy feeling from yesterday's workout. Tonight is a another session of Bokwa and Day 10 of the 30 Day Challenge.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 10 - 35 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 10 crunches, 25 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Day 9
Today is Day 9 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. For the Ab and Squat piece, there is a rest day today.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 9 - 15 second Side Plank, each side
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 9 - 15 second Side Plank, each side
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Another new week
Overall, it was a good weekend around here. It was not overly cold, although a little damp. Some of the snow even melted. I got in a good morning workout on Saturday, but wound up not making it to the special 2 hour Zumba/Bokwa event that I had hoped to attend on Saturday evening. Sunday, well I just didn't work out other than the 30 day challenge. It's not unusual, it is my rest day.
I baked a lot...I made lemon biscotti, but only ate one because the kittens got on the counter and threw the bag to the floor; I made Butterfinger Cupcakes, which fortunately, I don't eat; and I made two varieties of Rice Krispie Treats - original and cherry.
Today, it was a bonus spinning class, a makeup for all of the snow/cold weather days that the schools have had that caused our class to be cancelled. She did the workout Tebata style. It was hard, but I actually did enjoy it.
Today is Day 8 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 8 - 30 second Plank, 30 sit ups, 40 crunches, 60 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
I baked a lot...I made lemon biscotti, but only ate one because the kittens got on the counter and threw the bag to the floor; I made Butterfinger Cupcakes, which fortunately, I don't eat; and I made two varieties of Rice Krispie Treats - original and cherry.
Today, it was a bonus spinning class, a makeup for all of the snow/cold weather days that the schools have had that caused our class to be cancelled. She did the workout Tebata style. It was hard, but I actually did enjoy it.
Today is Day 8 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 8 - 30 second Plank, 30 sit ups, 40 crunches, 60 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Where did the day go?
Well, it is nearing bedtime and I just realized that I had not yet done or posted Day 7 of the 30 Day Plank-Ab-Squat Challenge. here is today's challenge:
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 7 - 10 second Side Plank, each side, 20 sit ups, 35 crunches, 55 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 7 - 10 second Side Plank, each side, 20 sit ups, 35 crunches, 55 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday
I was a little disappointed to weigh myself this morning and realize that I was flat for the week. This is not what I wanted, I want to get in shape and reduce my weight and be able to wear smaller clothes. Normally, for me, the first couple of weeks are usually good losses followed by weeks of 1/2 - 1 1/2# per week. Now, there are still a couple of days before this 'week' from a tracking perspective is over but still sort of bums me out...hoping I was just retaining and that tomorrow, the 'real' weight will reflect.
The Friday morning bootcamp workout has left me a little sore, but not too sore to head out for my toning class and some treadmill time. I am glad that I was able to get in a good workout to start my day. My husband and son were planning to go up to the Y to run on the track and so now, I am going to go back to walk on the track with my daughter.
I completed Day 5 yesterday of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. I didn't have my sheet with me, so I did twice as many squats as I needed to. Oh well! There was no plank yesterday, so it was a very quick challenge day. Today is Day 6 and I have already completed the challenge for today. Figured it was best to get it in while I was dressed for the gym. I did the plank both at the beginning and again at the end.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 6 - 25 second Plank, 15 sit ups, 30 crunches, 50 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Friday morning bootcamp workout has left me a little sore, but not too sore to head out for my toning class and some treadmill time. I am glad that I was able to get in a good workout to start my day. My husband and son were planning to go up to the Y to run on the track and so now, I am going to go back to walk on the track with my daughter.
I completed Day 5 yesterday of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. I didn't have my sheet with me, so I did twice as many squats as I needed to. Oh well! There was no plank yesterday, so it was a very quick challenge day. Today is Day 6 and I have already completed the challenge for today. Figured it was best to get it in while I was dressed for the gym. I did the plank both at the beginning and again at the end.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 6 - 25 second Plank, 15 sit ups, 30 crunches, 50 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Friday!
It is so nice to be able to go outside and not feel like you are freezing. The dampness of the rain has made it feel cooler than it is, but even that is better than the sub zero temps that we seemed to have regularly over the past two months.
Yesterday was boot camp day. I thought last night that I was going to be a lot more sore when I woke up today than I was. I feel silly saying it, but I was a bit disappointed by that. Oh well! Today was another boot camp class with a different teacher. It had a slightly different focus - more arms and core.
I like the 30 Day challenge, but am not yet convinced that I like the ab portion of the one that I chose. The other ab challenges that I have done were more diverse in movement. We will see though, with time the quantity of each exercise increases, so maybe it will prove to be better than it seems. Either way, I'm going to finish it.
Today is Day 5 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. Have you been joining in? The 5th day is a day of rest on the Plank challenge. So, today there will just be ab and squat exercises.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 5 - 5 sit ups, 10 crunches, 20 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yesterday was boot camp day. I thought last night that I was going to be a lot more sore when I woke up today than I was. I feel silly saying it, but I was a bit disappointed by that. Oh well! Today was another boot camp class with a different teacher. It had a slightly different focus - more arms and core.
I like the 30 Day challenge, but am not yet convinced that I like the ab portion of the one that I chose. The other ab challenges that I have done were more diverse in movement. We will see though, with time the quantity of each exercise increases, so maybe it will prove to be better than it seems. Either way, I'm going to finish it.
Today is Day 5 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. Have you been joining in? The 5th day is a day of rest on the Plank challenge. So, today there will just be ab and squat exercises.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 5 - 5 sit ups, 10 crunches, 20 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Thursday
It is like Pea Soup outside. We had inches of snow on Monday night into Tuesday, yesterday was slight warming and today we are expecting near 50 with thundershowers. Not a typical three day cycle in the middle of February. I just wish that we could have 50 and no rain...then, I could get outside tonight for a bonus workout. With the rain, its just not an option.
Yesterday was a good active day. Spinning in the morning. Walked to lunch with a friend - not far, but we weren't in the car. Bokwa in the evening. 30 Day Challenge at night - with plank at the beginning and the end again.
It was a good eating day too. Even though I went to lunch with a friend, I was able to keep it healthier by getting the chicken fajitas with no beans, no tortillas, and just having a touch of the rice, which I wasn't supposed to get since I had also said no rice.
Today is Day 4 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. Have you been joining in?
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 4 - 25 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 25 crunches, 40 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yesterday was a good active day. Spinning in the morning. Walked to lunch with a friend - not far, but we weren't in the car. Bokwa in the evening. 30 Day Challenge at night - with plank at the beginning and the end again.
It was a good eating day too. Even though I went to lunch with a friend, I was able to keep it healthier by getting the chicken fajitas with no beans, no tortillas, and just having a touch of the rice, which I wasn't supposed to get since I had also said no rice.
Today is Day 4 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge. Have you been joining in?
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 4 - 25 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 25 crunches, 40 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
It's Hump Day
So, here we are on Wednesday. It seems that the freezing rain we were expecting did not come, which is a good thing. It's supposed to be close to 50 tomorrow, which means that the inches and inches of snow that have accumulated in our yard will start to melt away - I'm not convinced that 50 is enough to melt it all, but the rain that is predicted will likely help.
Not having the chance to work out yesterday morning because of the snow was a real bummer. Having also missed Monday night and not being able to make up any missed workouts last night, left me with a rough day. I ate right where I should have, but my body was not ready for no exercise. The good news is I was right back at it this morning...although, I did almost hit my snooze button too many times to get there on time. Spinning was good this morning. Tonight is Bokwa. I am considering going to a 2 hour class on Saturday evening, since we have no other plans.
I completed day 2 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge yesterday. Again, I did the plank challenge both at the beginning and the end. It felt good. Crazy that the plank was only 15 seconds and I was shaking...guess I really need to work on planks.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 3 - 20 second Plank, 5 sit ups, 20 crunches, 35 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Not having the chance to work out yesterday morning because of the snow was a real bummer. Having also missed Monday night and not being able to make up any missed workouts last night, left me with a rough day. I ate right where I should have, but my body was not ready for no exercise. The good news is I was right back at it this morning...although, I did almost hit my snooze button too many times to get there on time. Spinning was good this morning. Tonight is Bokwa. I am considering going to a 2 hour class on Saturday evening, since we have no other plans.
I completed day 2 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge yesterday. Again, I did the plank challenge both at the beginning and the end. It felt good. Crazy that the plank was only 15 seconds and I was shaking...guess I really need to work on planks.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 3 - 20 second Plank, 5 sit ups, 20 crunches, 35 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Snow Day!
What a bummer - woke up to a white world, so there was no class this morning. That wouldn't have been so bad, if I could have fallen asleep, which I could not. And, I missed working out last night because of our schedules.
I guess I will have to be extra diligent in watching my intake today. Yesterday was an easy day for me. I ate and was satisfied and wasn't hungry and wanting to snack. That is a major positive...a hurdle that I am glad to have surpassed, because it is the munchies that are my downfall. I can stop eating after a serving at meal time, but at snack time, if I am munchie, I struggle to stop.
I completed day 1 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge last night. It worked out well for me. I even added a second plank to the end of the 4 moves. I think I will try to do that again tonight. I figure that the additional plank work is only a positive for me.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 2 - 15 second Plank, 20 sit ups, 15 crunches, 30 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
I guess I will have to be extra diligent in watching my intake today. Yesterday was an easy day for me. I ate and was satisfied and wasn't hungry and wanting to snack. That is a major positive...a hurdle that I am glad to have surpassed, because it is the munchies that are my downfall. I can stop eating after a serving at meal time, but at snack time, if I am munchie, I struggle to stop.
I completed day 1 of the 30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge last night. It worked out well for me. I even added a second plank to the end of the 4 moves. I think I will try to do that again tonight. I figure that the additional plank work is only a positive for me.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 2 - 15 second Plank, 20 sit ups, 15 crunches, 30 squats
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Monday! Monday!
Well, my first week back into the groove was less than ideal. I had a Girls Night Out planned with my friend that I haven't seen in ages, a work lunch - complete with dessert, and then we went out to dinner with friends for Valentine's Day. I had a small loss, but not nearly as much as I would have if I had stopped the week on Thursday morning. Never the less, onward I go, knowing that without those hurdles, this week should be easier.
This week, I am planning on starting a combination of two 30 day challenges that I found - 30 day plank challenge and 30 day ab and squat challenge. What I liked about the last few 30 day challenges that I did was that it was quick to complete the daily exercise and it got progressively more challenging.
Want to follow along? I will post on here each day what the exercise are. I will be doing them in the evening, but feel free to leave a comment and share how it is going for you.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 1 - 10 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 10 crunches, 25 squats.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
This week, I am planning on starting a combination of two 30 day challenges that I found - 30 day plank challenge and 30 day ab and squat challenge. What I liked about the last few 30 day challenges that I did was that it was quick to complete the daily exercise and it got progressively more challenging.
Want to follow along? I will post on here each day what the exercise are. I will be doing them in the evening, but feel free to leave a comment and share how it is going for you.
30 Day Plank, Ab and Squat Challenge
Day 1 - 10 second Plank, 10 sit ups, 10 crunches, 25 squats.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Is it almost Friday?
I hate to be one to wish away time, but I am so ready for the weekend to get here. My husband and I have a date night with friends this weekend, which should be a good time. We only have childcare until 9, so then we will come back and hang out together playing games or just visiting at one of our houses.
Yesterday was an okay day, I even splurged a little on snacks in the evening, eating to the high end of the range. Which brings me to a question...I use SparkPeoople, my husband uses My Fitness Pal...I get a range of daily calories, he gets a number. Is his number the high end of the range? I assume so, but I like that I have a bottom to my range...a point below which, I'm probably not getting enough and my body will misinterpret the signal and hold onto fat. To that end, as well, I find that by varying what I eat and varying regularly through the entirety of the range, that overall, I am more successful. So, if they only have one number, what do they do? I don't really have an answer, I do know that unlike me, my husband has been very successful in losing and keeping off weight. He is somewhere around 50# lost in the past year (started in early March I think)...he toggles around a few pounds, but is pretty steady. I'd be glad to be at half that and able to maintain. I'm on the journey again, which is really what matters.
For fitness yesterday, I started the day with spinning class...it was the first class where all of the bikes were in use. We have had all but one before, but not all bikes. Then in the evening, I went to a Bokwa class. I had tried it last summer when my instructor was first getting certified, but schedule hasn't made it possible for me to go regularly. I really like it and it was the activity that finally helped her get off the plateau and she has lost several inches and 25# since adding Bokwa to her offering. That is enough to sell me that it can work, especially as an addition to what I have already been doing.
Happy Thursday!
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yesterday was an okay day, I even splurged a little on snacks in the evening, eating to the high end of the range. Which brings me to a question...I use SparkPeoople, my husband uses My Fitness Pal...I get a range of daily calories, he gets a number. Is his number the high end of the range? I assume so, but I like that I have a bottom to my range...a point below which, I'm probably not getting enough and my body will misinterpret the signal and hold onto fat. To that end, as well, I find that by varying what I eat and varying regularly through the entirety of the range, that overall, I am more successful. So, if they only have one number, what do they do? I don't really have an answer, I do know that unlike me, my husband has been very successful in losing and keeping off weight. He is somewhere around 50# lost in the past year (started in early March I think)...he toggles around a few pounds, but is pretty steady. I'd be glad to be at half that and able to maintain. I'm on the journey again, which is really what matters.
For fitness yesterday, I started the day with spinning class...it was the first class where all of the bikes were in use. We have had all but one before, but not all bikes. Then in the evening, I went to a Bokwa class. I had tried it last summer when my instructor was first getting certified, but schedule hasn't made it possible for me to go regularly. I really like it and it was the activity that finally helped her get off the plateau and she has lost several inches and 25# since adding Bokwa to her offering. That is enough to sell me that it can work, especially as an addition to what I have already been doing.
Happy Thursday!
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
It's Hump Day
It may be hump day today, but yesterday sure felt like a Wednesday. I was dragging. I started my day with toning, so I got up at my normal time. When I got to work, I headed into a three hour meeting. I grabbed some coffee on the way in and then, when we took a break, I topped off. My manager totally called me out...a second cup today, you must be struggling. It's not that a second cup of coffee is completely rare, but in that short of a span it was.
I think that the issue is that when I first start to really watch what I eat, there seem to be a couple of days for my body to adjust back to good eating. In much the same way that after eating good for a while, you almost feel sick when you eat what you used to.
I didn't get to the gym for any evening activity, but did walk around the block and then through the snowy backyard with my daughter after dinner. It wasn't much, but at least it was up and moving after dinner. Then we set to work on her treats for Valentine's day. We are doing Minions...I'll share the project on the main blog, if you want to check it out.
My arms and pecs are certainly feeling yesterday's toning class...I love that feeling.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
I think that the issue is that when I first start to really watch what I eat, there seem to be a couple of days for my body to adjust back to good eating. In much the same way that after eating good for a while, you almost feel sick when you eat what you used to.
I didn't get to the gym for any evening activity, but did walk around the block and then through the snowy backyard with my daughter after dinner. It wasn't much, but at least it was up and moving after dinner. Then we set to work on her treats for Valentine's day. We are doing Minions...I'll share the project on the main blog, if you want to check it out.
My arms and pecs are certainly feeling yesterday's toning class...I love that feeling.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
It's Been a While...
but, it is time to refocus my effort. I had been doing okay last year with my workout and eating. I even spent time on my vacation working out. It was great...then, we had a trip to Disney, Thanksgiving, Christmas, illness, and work travel rolled into a very busy 3 month window and well, needless to say, even with regular activity, I just couldn't seem to overcome the additional food and spirits that I was consuming. So, here I am re-embarking on my weight loss journey. I still have the same long term goal weight, which I still have not met. But, I also have a short term incentive to get there. I potentially have a trip coming up for work that includes time hanging out at the pool. If I am going to hang out with co-workers by a pool, I need to feel good in my own skin. I only have about 9 weeks, but would love to lose at least 15 pounds by then. I recognize that it is a lofty goal, but also know that the first few weeks of renewed focus usually lead to some larger losses, before my body settles into a pound or two per week.
Yesterday I did Spin Class in the morning and then went for a 1.75 mile walk/run in the evening during the kids' swim lessons. Eating was good...I certainly was hungry, since I am used to eating more, but I moved through and it was all good. I stayed near the low end of my target.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yesterday I did Spin Class in the morning and then went for a 1.75 mile walk/run in the evening during the kids' swim lessons. Eating was good...I certainly was hungry, since I am used to eating more, but I moved through and it was all good. I stayed near the low end of my target.
I am not a diet or fitness expert. I am a mom, just trying to be healthy and fit. All opinions expressed are my own.
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