Day 34 to Day 43 Brings me to Feb 25, 2014 (getting close to halfway)

Day 34 to Day 43 Brings me to Feb 25, 2014 (getting close to halfway)


It's been 10 days since my last blog ;o

I have been fighting a cold and feeling like I'm losing the battle. It has sucked my energy but somehow I've managed to stick with my hour of exercise, although sometimes it is an hour of restorative yoga. Even this has been a learning experience. I am often surprised how horrible I feel in the morning and after dragging myself to the gym how much better I feel even if its just an hour of walking. I would love to have some spring weather to look forward to, but even the brighter mornings are helping. I am so glad that my routine is firmly established and that I have a workout partner, otherwise there would have been several mornings that I would not have made it to the gym. I'm also surprised that on a day I wouldn't normally go to the gym because of my cold, how often I can actually get a decent workout in. Not always, but most days are fairly productive. I think working out with a cold is OK, but if I was throwing up I don't think I could work out. So I haven't been feeling quite that bad. I would say I have a nasty cold, but not a flu.

I also eat more when I have a bad cold. I know that sounds weird, but frozen yogurt makes me feel better, so does chips and pop. Not exactly quality nutrition. My defences are down when I am not feeling 100% so I have to be careful.

On the upside, the gym has some new equipment in. This has freed up some of my favorite exercise machines (the elliptical) and today I walk/run on one of the new treadmills. The only thing I don't like is that the treadmills look out the window, and not towards the TV. I will have to download some magazines onto my ipad for reading. I have been using an app called "full fitness" at the gym at it has great application for weightlifting, programs and stretches.

This blog is just for my own personal reflection on this journey and to track my progress through my challenge, so I am surprised that I have so many viewers, but seriously if I can do it, you can do it too!

I have a couple of things that I do for gym cardio that might work for you too:

Cycling: I go to youtube, and download "spin class" and do the GCN spin class here is a 60 minute version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFbjsRvjF-A

I also used "yoga studio" an iphone/ipad app on my phone, when I just couldn't drag myself to the gym, it has great yoga from 10 minutes to 60 minutes. Be aware that there is no "beginner" 60 minute yoga, so I did the intermediate yoga, and it is harder than it looks!

I also did a 60 minutes of zumba one day, and did 50 minutes from one video, and 10 minutes of another called "latin dance"

Cold weekend blues Feb 08-11 Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues days 26/27/28/29 of a 100

Cold weekend blues Feb 08-11 Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues days 26/27/28/29 of a 100

I don't know where day 5 blog went, its a long way back and I spent time on writing it but it got lost in South Carolina. But we are in the cold cold north. Not regular cold, -33 cold, like can't breath outside without a bula cold. And that is centigrade not Fahrenheit. So that is like -to damn cold in Fahrenheit . I saw runners out there (disbelief) and they didn't look to happy. As a singer I don't run in -15 it makes my throat raw and I end up with a cough and can't sing.

Over one quarter of my challenge. It is working into a habit which is a relief. I am going to re blog day five which didn't make it out there but goes over my reasoning for the challenge, and talk a bit about my running which deserves some mention.

Why a 100 day challenge, and why an hour every day? Before the challenge I was signed up for courses and running sporadically. I thought I was running more, but according to my Nike app I was not. So I wanted CONSISTENCY which I was lacking. Also my schedule can be a bit wonky some days I work all day and then go for stretches at home, and because I am in the entertainment industry I also work weekends, which are times for long runs but the two often conflicted, I couldn't always make my classes because I travel to Edmonton and Jasper. So I wanted to ELIMINATE THE EXCUSES. I figured if I really tried I could fit in exercise every day. Also I have a fairly sedentary lifestyle, other than my hour of exercise I mainly sit and create. I also struggle with depression, and I believe I need to treat it to beat it, so every day exercise is important in MAINTAINING SELF CARE for myself.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495

I am also "pre-diabetic" so I need exercise to help COMBAT BECOMING DIABETIC and relying on insulin. I also overweight, and wanted consistent exercise to help me with my WEIGHT LOSS goal plan. I also WANTED TO BE STRONGER so I have added weight training into my regimen. I also wanted exercise to be a habit and not be a struggle, or something I do occasionally. I want to have MORE ENERGY throughout my day. I have and always will be a busy person, and I want to make sure that moving forward that I can at least say I am now giving it my best shot at leading a healthy active lifestyle and that will help me as I age. My ultimate goal is to be able to wear anything I want without being self conscious, indulge in treats occasionally without guilt, and to be able to do any physical challenge I want without worry.

So I am well into my challenge over 25%. What have I noticed so far?

• I am more energetic after a workout
• I appreciate naps
• I am exhausted in the evenings
• I have to eat better all the time
• I have cut down on drinking alchohol
• my mileage for running is way up (Nov 8.49 km/Dec 5.19 km/Jan 52.4 km)
• I am running stronger, I don't feel "exhausted after a 1/2 hour"
• I am feeling more confident, therefore I am happier
• I am having a harder time sleeping in
• I am more energetic throughout the day
• I am drinking way more water and coffee
• I am enjoying the company of my workout partner
• I am inspired by the people around me
• I am grateful for my body for allowing me to do this

Running this weekend: I hate the treadmill, I can only run a max of 1 hour and that is what I did Saturday , I tried the track at Whitecourt on Sunday, it wasn't much better. Those are the options I have right now, so I am glad that I do have options, I just love the outdoors so much, and miss the scenery, fresh air, sunlight, and company of my dog skip. I have no idea what my running strategy is this weekend. I just hope it warms up a bit.

New Month and 1/5th the way through my challenge! Day 20 (Friday, Jan 31) & 21 (Sat Feb 01)

LOL, yesterday was a challenge getting out of bed. I actually woke up when I was supposed to be leaving, I had to text my gym partner for a bye. I did go to the gym but much much later than I usually do. Then I had a funny experience>

I was very tired, so I didn't want to "think" about my workout too much, so I decided to do a full hour on the elliptical, picked a program, grabbed a few magazines, started working out. Have you ever watched that video on facebook about inappropriate gym goers? Well there is the "singer" and that is who I had beside me after about 10 minutes into my program. He was an older guy with the big Bluetooth headphones. It was kind of funny at first, and then I realized after about another 10 minutes he was doing a cardio day :( Most guys get on the elliptical for 15 minutes (if that) then go lift weights. This guy decided to camp in beside me. He started off "ooing" and singing out the occasional word, then amped it up into sing full verses. Full voice. It was really annoying. It was the only time I wished (badly) that I hadn't forgot my headphones. So note to self, buy a pair of headphones to leave in the gym bag. Besides he was a bad singer.

Today was my long run day, and I did 10km. I also need to remember on my run: Kleenex, and my bula. It looks sunny out there, but I need something to cover my ears, that wind was deadly today. I'm not sure what other things you need out there when you are running but I do need to plan a little when I get up in mileage. I drive my route and drop off water, (I HATE) carrying water, I make sure I wear my good smart wool socks and I have a great lotion I wear on my feet, ever hear of Mary Kay extra emollient lotion? it is like the best smelling lotion and I have used it on my feet for years and never get blisters. I also use coconut oil on my face, just keeps it from getting chafed by the wind and works as a mild sunscreen. I also put peppermint oil on the back of my hand, and I when I need a little boost I take a good whif, a little aromatherapy! Let me know your tricks and tips for running, we all have them :)

100 workouts in 100 days

So I am going to challenge myself to 100 workouts in 100 days

I am going to commit to an hour a day, and alternate between heavy exercise and light exercise, I don't have a physical job at all, and outside of workouts, generally sit mostly.

I started today, and purchased a gym membership, I really liked my classes, but alternating between Ripped, Zumba, and Aquasize was a financial commitment of about $80/month and my gym membership is 42/month.

I also signed up with a friend who is committed too, so I think it will work out great.

I am running as well and am going to train for the Whitecourt marathon, and right now have committed to a 1/4 for sure and maybe a 1/2.

So my week should look like this:

3 days weight lifting at the gym (one full body, one arms and abs, one legs and abs)
3 days running (one short run, one day hills, one day long run) I can alternate outside and treadmill
1 day long walk/Zumba/Yoga/Swimming


Tomorrow I had thought of going skiing, so that will be instead of running. My runs have started short and my plan is to go up 1km every week, so that would look like:

short run 3km
hills 3 hills
long run (double short run) 6km

next week:

short run 4km
hills 4
long run 8 km

I am also on an eating plan, but it's easy to follow and good support.

At the beginning most of my runs and workouts will only be about 30 minutes, so I will round this out with additional walking. I also anticipate that once my runs start getting longer, I will have to lighten my weight lifting on my legs or work on arms and abs.

The Challenge will take me to April 18, because I started today.

DAY ONE

Started with a full body weight lifting on a program that was designed by Alpine and refined by Shanaz. It is mostly on the machines and alternates between arms and legs. This is a program that I used before and liked a lot. It can be as short as 30 minutes or longer if you incorporate sets/supersets.

I am not much of a morning person at first, but I am always happiest working out in the morning and getting it out of the way. I don't mind evening exercise but it has to be something team related like badminton, or fun like aquacize or Zumba.

We are starting at 8:00 AM and that seems to be a great time, a little earlier than I am used to, but this busy day I am grateful for the early start to my day.

I have the program on my ipad and that keeps me accountable and on track. Today was a full body weight lifting, 15 minute warm up on the elliptical, and crunches/burpees in between arms.