I totally did both sets of push ups on my knees (got a bit of carpet burn!) during the 30 DS! I definitely find it a LOT harder after running, but I guess that's just part of the challenge for me. "These abs don't come for free" as Jillian would say!
Now the new challenge- getting up tomorrow morning and doing day 6 before work. We'll see...
Sunday, May 8, 2011
I'm still here!
Since my last post, I've been super busy, but still working in the 30 day shred video and working some more running. I ran with the local running group yesterday, in fact. I joined a 30DS challenge group on myfitnesspal.com to help keep me honest with that. I started it on May 1st and in theory, we'd all finish the video on May 30th. I've already missed 3 days, but I have found that it is getting ever so slightly easier! In fact, just today, I felt the urge to do some push ups. I've been doing the 30DS ones against a television on my floor (about 2-2.5 feet high). Those are still HARD- especially since we have to do them continuously for 30 seconds in two bursts in the very first circuit. Well, today, I got down on the floor and found I could do 15 "girl" push ups (meaning, on my knees, instead of my toes.) Fifteen!!! I've never been able to do any push ups (except maybe when I was a kid??) Incredible! I geekily shared my joy with my boyfriend who I was skyping with at the time. :) (He also seemed pleased for me!)
Talk about some motivation! I look forward to seeing if I can do the girl push ups now while doing the video. Which I will be doing later tonight. After I go for my 4 mile run.... This will be day 5 on level one. I do find that I am starting to say things along with Jillian! Which I think is why I needed a couple of days away. This time next week, I should be well into level 2, though. I am a little nervous about that, but I am trusting that by the time I get there, I will be ready. I am already starting to see a lot of improvement (albeit not visual- yet.) My goal is to finish one round before I leave for France with the students on June 9th (which means no more missing days!) The main advantage of the DVD is that I can just start it up in my living room and save the time I'd have to spend driving to the gym and back. Plus, it means I get to sleep in just a little longer versus the mornings I run. I eventually want to try doing both every day (well, most). Something to work up to!
Talk about some motivation! I look forward to seeing if I can do the girl push ups now while doing the video. Which I will be doing later tonight. After I go for my 4 mile run.... This will be day 5 on level one. I do find that I am starting to say things along with Jillian! Which I think is why I needed a couple of days away. This time next week, I should be well into level 2, though. I am a little nervous about that, but I am trusting that by the time I get there, I will be ready. I am already starting to see a lot of improvement (albeit not visual- yet.) My goal is to finish one round before I leave for France with the students on June 9th (which means no more missing days!) The main advantage of the DVD is that I can just start it up in my living room and save the time I'd have to spend driving to the gym and back. Plus, it means I get to sleep in just a little longer versus the mornings I run. I eventually want to try doing both every day (well, most). Something to work up to!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
30 day shred- Day 1!
Well, in an effort to try something new (and not always have to go through the pre-running routine that takes so much time), I finally started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred DVD. I bought it last summer when I first started losing weight for realz and made the mistake of trying it right after running and weights at the gym. Uh, it's a bit harder than it looks!
It was nice not to have to go anywhere to workout. That is new for me. I generally enjoy the "comraderie" of the gym. I find it motivating, plus they have lots of equipment that I simply don't have or have room for in my apartment. I also got to sleep in just a little later because the workout is short compared to my morning runs.
I enjoyed the DVD a lot more than I thought I would! I really like how she is switching it up every 30-60 seconds. It keeps the boredom away. Plus, since it's non-stop, I really feel I can get maximum benefits. Here I sit at work, a good 2 1/2 hours after finishing the workout and my arms and legs (but especially my arms) are burning still! I hope I can lift them tomorrow, because I want to go for day 2!
It was nice not to have to go anywhere to workout. That is new for me. I generally enjoy the "comraderie" of the gym. I find it motivating, plus they have lots of equipment that I simply don't have or have room for in my apartment. I also got to sleep in just a little later because the workout is short compared to my morning runs.
I enjoyed the DVD a lot more than I thought I would! I really like how she is switching it up every 30-60 seconds. It keeps the boredom away. Plus, since it's non-stop, I really feel I can get maximum benefits. Here I sit at work, a good 2 1/2 hours after finishing the workout and my arms and legs (but especially my arms) are burning still! I hope I can lift them tomorrow, because I want to go for day 2!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tempeh BLT
Made myself an awesome veggie BLT today using a new product I picked up recently called tempeh smoky maple bacon. It was so good for lunch, that I had the exact same thing for dinner!!
What you need:
2 pieces whole wheat bread, toasted
4 tempeh bacon strips
tomato slices
lettuce
low fat mayo (I used olive oil mayo.)
Heat a small pan with 1 tsp olive oil. Once it's hot, put in 4 tempeh strips. Cook on medium for 2 minutes on each side. While the tempeh is cooking, make the toast, slice the tomatoes and cut up lettuce. Spread each piece of toast with a thin layer of mayo. Layer tomatoes on one piece and the tempeh on the other. Put the lettuce in between and enjoy! I had a nice simple salad of romaine hearts, grape tomatoes, English cucumber and red pepper with Bolthouse blue cheese dressing. YUM!
What you need:
2 pieces whole wheat bread, toasted
4 tempeh bacon strips
tomato slices
lettuce
low fat mayo (I used olive oil mayo.)
Heat a small pan with 1 tsp olive oil. Once it's hot, put in 4 tempeh strips. Cook on medium for 2 minutes on each side. While the tempeh is cooking, make the toast, slice the tomatoes and cut up lettuce. Spread each piece of toast with a thin layer of mayo. Layer tomatoes on one piece and the tempeh on the other. Put the lettuce in between and enjoy! I had a nice simple salad of romaine hearts, grape tomatoes, English cucumber and red pepper with Bolthouse blue cheese dressing. YUM!
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