Day 7: A weekend!

I know I had said earlier that I'd like to avoid working out on the weekends but today I found myself home early after church with not much to do. As I write, Lisa and Pat are driving back home from a road trip and John is at work. Kids are playing and dogs are napping. In other words, I am enjoying a rare quiet moment.

I decided I'd try to fit in a workout since I had some free time. Thank goodness each workout is only 20 minutes! I decided to do Level 1 again to see if my strength had improved over the week, and indeed it has. I definitely felt stronger and less winded than I did the first week. I don't notice any signifant changes to my body but I do feel stronger, less bloated and ever so slightly less flabby.

I am shocked to say that I no longer loathe exercise like I used to. I still don't love it but I don't hate it, and that is saying quite a bit. I have noticed an increase in energy and a couple of people have said that I've been less evil... moody... mean in a better mood lately. So really, everyone is winning!

Day 3.. break....then 4, 5 and 6!

Whoops, I forgot to update my shred status. Let's see here...

OH. So I did Day 3 Level 1 of the video last Friday. By day 3, the soreness from the first two days had worn off just ever so slighty and I wasn't quite as winded by the cardio and I could manage the strength series without dropping my weights. Also, by far the abs series are the most difficult for me. Seriously, the ones where I have to lift both my legs AND my chest? Yeah...ok, right. The abdominal muscles... you know... the ones where my stomach is? They don't exist, those muscles. I had three babies who wrecked my body and left my skin a lifeless, striped sack of flab who have brought me nothing but joy. But nevertheless, three babies, each whom stretched me as far as I could go.

Then we went away for the weekend, which meant no exercise - which, honestly... was totally fine by me. But I did resume the shred on Tuesday, the first full day back at home. Surprisingly, I found that I could actually do a "real" pushup now, without having to rest on my knees. It may seem like a small feat, but I don't think I've been able to do a plank pushup for years. or maybe even ever? Anyways, I finished the week with two more workouts, on Thursday and today, which is Friday. The Level 2 is obviously more challening than Level 1 and I feel like Level 1 definitely prepared me for Level 2. Plus, it was more difficult given the fact that Oliver kept trying to sit on my back during the pushups. Hey man, I'm not that strong. Yet....

So here is what I've done so far:

Week 1: Level 1, three times (Tues/Wed/Fri)
w/ one session on hot hatha yoga on Wednesdayevening

Week 2: Level 2, three times (Tues/Thurs/Fri)
w/ one session of hot power yoga on Tuesday evening

Week 3: (Next week)
I will do 3 times/week on level 3 and hopefully I can get a hot power yoga session in. The combination of the two is great and I love the feeling of rejuvenation when I'm done with the hot yoga.

I have decided do each level thre thrice weekly but somehow fit it in between Mon-Fri so that I can have the weekend off.

And now you've finished reading what is officially the most boring post I've ever written. Yeesh.

***

My current fave Jillian Michaels quote:

"I want you to feel..... like you're going. to. die"
(Level 2)



.

Day 2: Ow. Ow... ow....

OW

I'm sore. I went to bed feeling sore and woke up feeling sore. But I got through day 2 of the shred. Some of the moves were harder today because of my sore muscles but the cardio portion felt a little bit easier to bear through. I definitely think abs will be the most difficult part for me. Three babies and late night McDonalds runs have done nothing for my muscles...and my thighs... and my butt.

So. Day 2 is done. And I'm sore.

***

I'm trying hot yoga tonight with Macalla.

I'm scared. So.. scared.....

Day 1: Not shredded just yet

I just finished my very first workout with Jillian Michaels.

After the first set of strength training with little 2 pound weights, my arms were burning. After the first set of jumping jacks, my knees were protesting in pain and I could barely use my so called abdominal "muscles" to do a proper sit up.

Verdict?


I am horribly out of shape. And obviously in need of some exercise.

I can't say much in terms of change just yet, but I can tell you that I do feel better after a nice brisk workout. We'll see how long I can keep this up and how soon I will see some, if any, changes in my body and my mood.

Day one: DONE

Yes, it's really me writing this post

Those who really know me know this -

I don't exercise.

I don't like to work out. I don't like to exert myself. I just don't like it. It's all... hard and stuff.

However, I have recently had a tiny change of heart. I mean, I think I look relatively thin but I'm nowhere near in healthy shape. One word - Flabby. I might look fine to in clothes but looks are deceiving under drapey sweaters. Also, why do you think I wear black all of the time? I just want to feel healthier and have more energy. I drag my knuckles around the house all day from fatigue and low energy. This in turn causes me to be grumpy - to my kids, to my husband, actually...to anyone in the 100 yard vicinity of me.

So I have decided to do something about it.

No, I haven't joined a gym or anything - because I'm too cheap - but I've am going to take the plunge and try this:

I'd like for someone to hold me now. Thank you.

When I was in line at Walgreens waiting to purchase the DVD, the cashier actually pointed to it and said "OOH, she's mean". Fantastic. Just what I need to get this flabby vessel in shape. I mean, have you seen her berate some of those contesants on The Biggest Loser? Although, I must say from experience that sometimes being mean gets the job done. Ask my family,

Anyways, I'm sharing my workout news with you because I figure I will document my progress and see if I notice any changes to my body/mind/spirit. I am not going to do this for 30 days straight but the idea of the workouts is to work your way to 30 days on increasing levels of intensity. I will probably aim to work out at least 3 times a week.

And sorry, I won't be posting any pictures of my "badly in need of a tan and a good sloughing" body. After all, I am a very vain person who has too much shame respect you all too much. Yeah, something like that.

So... tomorrow is day one. I'll let you know how it goes.