Friday, April 30, 2010

Day 5

30 Day Shred

Day 5 - Check

My alarm went off at 5:10 (like always). I pushed snooze once, twice, three times. Of course, I didn't fall back to sleep between any of those times. I was lying there thinking what I could cut out of my morning routine so I could stay in bed a little longer. First, I decided that I would wear pants today, so I wouldn't have to shave my legs. Second, I figured that my hair didn't need to be straightened. (It's snowing out today anyway...and yes, it is April 30th).

Instead of doing a Firm DVD last night, I went to Emma's and did a 45 minute weight loss work out on her elliptical. I didn't even cheat, I did the whole thing. (Watching a movie at the same time always makes the time go by much faster...)

Bad News: My weight has stayed pretty much the same this whole week. Blah. It fluctuates within a pound.

Good News: Since my highest weight ever back in August/September of 2009, I'm down 15 pounds.

Of course, I feel that now I am working out, the poundage should just melt off (especially now that I'm actually trying...)

Muscle weighs more than fat, right? Haha...

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Day 4

30 Day Shred

Day 4 - Check

Pulling myself out of bed today was tough. My alarm went off at 5:10, and I thought it was Elza's 4 AM alarm. But the beeping never stopped, and that's I realized it was my blaring alarm clock. Good thing I have this blog, or I might have just turned over. Believe it or not, typing it all out motivates me.
I went to Kohls and bought some new cross-training sneakers yesterday. They didn't have a ton of options, but I found some New Balance ones (not the prettiest, but so comfy), and they were on sale for $40! And I had 10 dollars worth of Kohls cash, so that made them only $30! It was such a good deal, that I just had to get the zebra print pumps that I found there also...(regularly $69.99, I got them for $13.99)! I also got a nice white tee shirt, regularly $16, for $8. I love it so much, I may go back and get one or two more. White tee shirts are always good to have, and you might as well invest and get a couple, right?
Bad news - I checked my weight this morning and I was up a pound. What the! I was doing so well! I guess I probably shouldn't have had that whole sub sandwich from Jimmy John's last night. The plan was to just eat half and save the other half for lunch today, but it was just so dang good, I couldn't stop eating!
Time to start working on my self-control over food...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Day 3

30 Day Shred

Day 3 - Check

Today I worked out alone. Elza has a new job cleaning buildings at BYU, 4:30 AM-8 AM. (crazy). I've decided that working out with a buddy (who you're comfortable with) is much more pleasant than working alone. I don't like gyms. I don't go to gyms. I think everyone is looking at me. I know they aren't, but that's just how I feel. I now this is reverse, but I want to look good before I go to the gym. Or at least feel/look semi-fit. It's a dumb excuse. I know.

I thought this morning would be easier than the past two. I thought wrong. I was struggling! I felt good (well, better) doing the cardio, but the weights were killing me! I love the strength training. I feel like it's a nice little break from all of the cardio. But I pressed on, sweat sliding down my face. During the last circuit of strength training (and the hardest one for me), I took a closer look at my hand weights and saw that more weight had been added to the dumbbell! Oh well.
I don't think doing the 30 Day Shred alone is enough exercise. I have time to do more in the evening. My first plan was to add Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD after work. It's 45 minutes long, and it's full of cardio. I die a little every time. And then I found a great workout calendar from The Firm. I have a lot of their videos, and I have the weights and resistent bands. With this calendar, I'll rest on Sundays and Wednesdays. Sounds good to me! I start tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes! Cross your fingers. I get easily distracted in the evenings...

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Day 2

30 Day Shred

Day 2 - Check

I woke up 5:10 AM, pushed snooze (an extra 8 minutes!), stayed in bed for another 7 minutes, and finally pulled myself out of bed at 5:25 AM. Elza didn't get home until 1:30 this morning, and sleepily told me that she will skip this morning and work out tonight instead.

Two minutes later, Elza joins me in the family room, mumbling something about being strong, and so we began our warm up with Jillian.

I'm having a hard time with sit ups. My neck starts to strain. Jillian keeps telling me that my "neck is not invited", "look at the ceiling" when I do sit ups, and to imagine"push(ing) my belly button into the ground". The whole time, I keep rearranging my hands and fingers behind my head and neck, trying to find a comfortable position. By the time I have found this position, the circuit is over and it's time to stand up again. I'll have to keep working on this. I think my neck is working harder than my abs! I need to perfect the sit up...

Right now, the push ups are pretty non-existent. I can do a couple (and I say 'couple' very loosely). But it's only Day 2, so I'm not worried yet!

I checked my weight this morning. I thought, by some miracle (and wishful thinking), that I would weigh less. But no, I was the exact same. It's alright. I've got 28 more days!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Day 1 (Again?)

I have started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred exercise video. ( I say 'again' in the title because I've tried this once before. It didn't quite work out...I turned lazy).

Day One - Check

Elza set the alarm on her phone the night before, and at 5:20 AM the next morning, we woke up to "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical 'Oklahoma'. Beautiful? I thought not. I rolled out of bed, put in my contacts, got dressed into my exercise clothes (which I set out the night before),trudged to the family room, and turned on the TV.

Elza kept making me laugh. Not on purpose, but she kept standing/jumping/running/landing on squeaky, loose boards in the floor. Good thing no one lives below us right now. But perhaps everything is a bit more humorous at 5:30 in the morning.

All I know is, I really don't like jumping rope. Or maybe I just need a new sports bra.