Tuesday Fitness

Alrightly, so I figure it's time to actually start posting about what I am DOING for fitness and not just want I read about and plan on doing.  Tuesday warrior energy - utilized. I admit, it has not been a very productive work out week.  I tried one of Melissa Bender's at home work outs last week between exams, just one of the 10 minute core workouts. I ended up with sore-to-the-point-of-unusable thighs for the next 3 days.  And I mean, this was the worst post work out soreness I have ever experienced.  Talk about efficient exercise time management. I don't know if it was because I did not stretch properly, or I am just incredible out of shape.  Either way - I took a 5 day break from working out...

Well, I got my sea legs back and hopped back on that horse today.  I decided with the intensity of the last workout, it's best I stick to the short ones, and refrain from moving beyond beginner level suggestions at that.  I haven't jogged in a while either with the cold front causing some hesitation about going outside. So I found a quick, in-home cardio routine.  Advice: think ahead when prepping for a workout! Tennis shoes, yoga mat, strategic placing over an area rug, etc.  Also interval timers prove helpful for her particular work outs - I was using my fiance for this until he resigned and found an iphone app (Seconds) for this.  I followed up with an easy dog walk because they haven't gone out on a full walk in a while.  Overall, this workout (plus pre-workout stretching) went very well. I guess I will find out how I feel tomorrow.

Chips, dip and pasta: never-mind the mismatched dishes

I let the dogs loose for water back at the house, and made up a glass of chocolate almond milk for myself.  I read several times that chocolate milk is a great post-workout drink for the nutrients and energy it provides.  I have had some bouts with heartburn recently so I've swapped for almond milk (FYI, good soother for cranky reflux).  I cooked garden veggie pasta with a simple sauce of tomatos, chili pepper, garlic, and thai red curry paste.  Just enough to have flavor, but not actually be hot.  I topped it off with reduced fat goat cheese.  For a side I heated up some left over homemade potato chips - not at all healthy, but I had them leftover from our last dinner out :P
I even made up a version of the sauce they were served with at Whale's Rib.  (According to my taste buds, that would be mayo, dijon mustard, oil and red wine vinegar and just a pinch of sugar).  Tasted like a match to me! Again, not advisable, but waste not want not.

My goal is to keep up a simple but regular routine. I'm more concerned at the moment with making exercise a habit than I am with those workouts being at bootcamp level.  At this point, slow and steady wins the race.  Short, simple workouts just to make sure I actually do them.

I even put a little post it on my desktop to remind me how much I should get done in a week. I did not schedule these focus areas on days, or even for durations or designate if any are in the same day or not.  I just want to work on these areas, this number of times in a week.  They say that once you have done something for a month, it becomes habit.  Two weeks of consistant workout is my record...so I'm halfway there, right?

Yes to the Dress and a Run in the Sun

Less than 4 months to go until the focus of all our friends and family will be on me, walking around and dancing.  But with a big gown (yet to be altered), I'm less concerned with fitting into my dress as I am looking good and feeling healthy on my honeymoon.  We are spending 4 nights in Rome and 4 nights in Paris, which is sure to include quite a bit of trekking around town. I would hate to get winded or tired and tell him we need to take a break!

I may not work out, but I am familiar with the concept. We moved to Florida because my father got a government job which required some strict fitness criteria to get in.  It's been many years since all of that, I can't vouch for his fitness at the moment. But now my brother takes the torch. He is on the wrestling team at his high school and trains constantly. The wrestling team has some strategies that are a little too much for my tastes (a growing teen who is supposed to be 130lbs probably shouldn't be fasting, working out, and sweating until he can fight the 115 weight class).  But, the extreme diets and 3 mile runs in sweat clothes aside.... I have managed to pick out some core features of a workout that seem to be repeated in much milder workouts by the average adult.

My conclusions are that you need:
Cardio+Workout, neither one will work alone.  Cardio is great for endurance, heart health, circulation, and fat loss.  Some ab work and push ups/pull ups will certainly help shape those muscles, creating definition, strength, and strong core muscles helps protect your body and maintain good posture. But, it would be hard to see your rock hard abs with a layer of fat over them, unless you add in the cardio to help work it off.

I don't have an eminent problem with fat, other than in my own mind! We are always our own worst critic.  My goal as far as fat loss goes is simply to lose enough so that I can see my ab workouts paying off.  The cardio for me is more about endurance and to strengthen my heart and lungs.  (I have no endurance - not joking).

I started trying to jog this week.  But hopefully I can get a run in 2-3 times a week and do some exercises at home in between. There are actually some great little workout routines out there for specific areas you want to work on.  These are great for the days in between jogging.  Pinterest is pretty helpful here too.  I found a great blog by Melissa Bender and she has workouts GALORE.  I found a 10 minute total core work out (a quick one is all I wanted to start with - when I start too intense the drive seems to fizzle out within weeks).  Today is a run day (I last jogged on Sunday or Monday) so after this post I'll have to get dressed and get my butt outside. Tomorrow or Friday I will do this core workout.

I'll try to take a picture so we can get a before and after.  That is, as long as there is an after - keep your fingers crossed that I actually keep up!

New Year New Beginnings

Well here comes the mandatory new year blog post!  I'll try not to get into notions about positive thinking and starting fresh. That's a given and naturally each new year gives us a special time to refocus ourselves and reinstate old goals as well as develop any new ones.

Of course, I am very excited for graduation and marriage, all to come in the first half of this year.  So most of my time and energy will have to be aimed at keeping focused and not letting distractions get in the way.

Resolution #1: Maximize time efficiency to get all school work and wedding projects done and done well.

Spiritually I am finishing up my year and a day Wicca course at the Unitarian church.  Granted I think I've decided I'm more in the way of traditional witchcraft rather than Wicca, but that's the sort of thing I may not have figured out without attending this class.  Not to mention all the other great things I've learned. This class is truly designed to help us find our own way and lend tools that anyone can utilize and alter to fit our personal style. As it should be.

Resolution #2: Continue to learn, study, and grow spiritually in whatever way life leads me. In particular - use my new "Spell-a-Day" Almanac by Llewellyn to help me use magick on a regular basis and start internalizing some of the great information I have been learning.

Of course, there is also the need to hop on that job train that I will have to carve out more time for.  I have a fast approaching deadline to start rounding up some interviews toward finding something to do with my life post-wedding.  I can't wait to see what the world has in store for me (although it is most definitely scare to not know!).

Resolution #3: Try to use some of my spare time to actually apply to jobs, use the career center at school, and keep on top of networking opportunities to find a career. Never lose hope and never stop trying!

I have a few other goals that probably reflect those of many who read this.  Some people look at me and think I must eat healthy and work out and all that jazz.  I am a young adult and blessed with a good metabolism (for the moment).  But any day now, given my genetic predecessors, it will slow down and I'm going to have to do something about it.  So my final new year's resolution is to not only start exercising  but continue doing so.  I have started many times before, but my drive tends to fizzle out after two or three weeks. I need to buckle down and make exercise a routine. I think I have done well eating healthier lately, but I can always keep improving.  I did buy a cookbook today with a lot of delicious, fresh looking meals called "ten dollar dinners" that I am excited to work with.  Two birds with one stone on better eating and saving money! I'll try to take pictures when I get around to making those recipes.

Resolution #4: Exercise and cook great, healthy meals at home :)

So those are my resolutions.  As will any goal, I tried to keep them realistic. I also will try to keep in a positive mindset and realize that I may have hard times and hiccups in juggling all of these and that is ok.  Life goes on and so will I.  As long as I'm trying to stay on track and keep focused on these goals, I will be moving in a good direction.

Good luck to all of you in your resolutions, and don't give up! May the sun rise each day bringing brightest hopes and blessings for everyone.

Happy 2013!