ever so slowly

i started running 4 miles this week. it's not a huge deal, but i need to mark it to encourage myself that i progressing. the few runs are taking it's toll on my back and i can feel the muscles flaring up, but i'll probably keep plowing ahead anyways.

i finally started jotting down my workout notes. note to self. it's best not to look at where you were a year ago especially when that year was spent, pregnant and on the couch.  when i made the mistake of looking and comparing, it brought such discouragement. i kept thinking that i have a long way to go before i am back to where i was this time last year.  but then i looked at my little man and the discouragement was replaced with sheer mama joy! i love my little guy. his smiles melt my heart.

snatches

snatches, come on!  why you playin' so hard to get. let's be friends, huh?

dreams that make you smile in the morning

i had the best dream. i dreamed that i did 45 pull-ups. UNASSISTED! it was such a site to watch :) yes, i watch myself in my dreams. i woke up this morning feeling so great! 

so ready for my workout this morning! GOOD MORNING, indeed!

venting on p90x

it's been two years since i've done this workout but i was feeling too lazy to run outside in the cold so i pulled this out. can i just say that after 2 years, i still find this guy really annoying? is it just me?
i mean really - two tickets to the gun show? who says that?!!!

by the way, i did the back and bicep one today and while i think my biceps got a workout, i didn't really sweat and that's kind of my test on any workout... did i sweat?

so here's my two cents. if it's cold outside and you just want to get something in, put the video on mute.

work out and post drink

did an insanity workout, followed by 300 situps and then had a pretty good post workout smoothie.

here's the recipe:

1/2C kefir
a small handful of grated carrots and spinach (i used the pulp from my juice that i had talked about the other day)
1/4C grapes
1 kiwi.

throw all into vita-mix and then enjoy!

insanity week1

so this is the first week of insanity. and so far i'm loving it. it's tough. to be perfectly honest, my body has plateaued from the various workouts i do and so don't usually get sore from workouts anymore. this one's doing it. the soreness isn't bad but just enough to know that it's utilizing some muscles that haven't been stretched lately. nice!

i was telling my man that the workouts are really tough but he reminded me that i said that at the beginning of p90x and then quickly plateaued in that too, so i'll have to see if this is going to be the same thing. i took day 2 pics just to compare to day 60. sorry but i'm not secure with myself enough to post for all the world to see (all 2 people who read this blog)... but i'm hoping to see an improvement.

here's our jewel who wanted to workout wi†h her momma:

insanity

day 1 was today. the schedule had me do a fit test. wasn't bad. but there were a few i couldn't do because i'm still feeling bad from the doctor's visit yesterday. but all in all, the results weren't bad.

workout update

today's totals:
300 squats
300 sit ups
150 push ups
20 modified pull ups

man! the push ups are hard for me. i can't seem to get near that 300 goal for anything!

insanity

on my current wish list is this workout series by beach body called insanity.

i'm such a sucker for infomercials!

self fulfilling prophesy

i don't think that i should have said this was going to be a bad workout week... sometimes by saying it out loud - it ends up being.

the day was quickly coming to a close and not only did i not seem to have much time, but i also really really really didn't want to do ANYTHING. i ended the day with 300 sit ups. my man really dislikes this phrase, but it's appropriate here... " it's better than nothing".

g'nite.

no gym workout continued

i can tell this week is going to be a bad workout week for me.
i didn't do anything yesterday and today's totals are: 200 sit ups and 200 squats.
that's it. didn't really push myself to do much else.

no gym workout day 7

today's workout totals:
200 sit ups
200 squats
90 push ups
2 sets of chest presses (15 reps)

the push ups seem to be so far away from that 300 goal!!

no gym workout day 7

set 1:
sit ups 50
push ups 20
modified chin ups 20
chair dips 25

repeat set 1

set 2:
alternating sit ups (for obliques) 25 each side
alternating bicep curls 15
field goal press 15
dead lifts 15

repeat set 2

finished off with 20 reps of chest press and 10 modified chin ups

no gym, workout day 6

2 sets weightlifting bar dead lift (15 reps)
150 sit ups
40 modified pull ups
50 push ups

workout day 5

day's tally:
200 weighted squats
135 sit ups
80 spider push ups
2 sets of bicep curls (15 reps)
2 sets of front raises (15 reps)
2 sets of "field goal press" (15 reps). ok that's not what it's called but i can' remember what it is. you start in a field goal position with weights, and then press the arms together until the elbows are almost touching (stay in the field goal position the whole time).

workout day 4

day 4 of the "no gym" workout
35 sit ups
20 push ups (w/ alternating back row)
20 reps chest press
20 reps dead lift
75 tip toe squats

repeat above 3 more times.

workout day 3

continuing with the "no gym" workouts here is the next segment of what i did

set 1:
25 sit ups
20 push ups
50 step, knee, split leg combo

rest 1 min

set 2:
stagnant sit ups (this is what i call them... start off in a traditional sit up position, (make sure you feel the contraction in your abs), hold that position for 30 sections. then go down 10 degrees and hold for 10 sections. keep going until your lower back is on the ground but don't let your shoulders drop. (said in another way: from the "top" of the sit up to the "bottom" of the sit up, imagine there are 5 positions. at each of these positions stay for 30 seconds.
20 push up back lift combos
50 tiptoe squats (put weights under the heels of your feet)
1 set of alternating bicep curls
1 set of tricep dips
1 set of dead lifts

rest 1 min

repeat set 1

rest 1 min

repeat set 2.

all done :)

workout day 2 of the 300 challenge

today's workout was:
200 step - knee lift - split leg lunge combos
125 sit ups
100 push ups

no interesting title

3 workouts in less than 18 hours and less than 5 hours of sleep. i'm wiped out and the day has just started! i promised my man a workout date tonight, but i don't know if i can make it - esp since i also promised some friends i'd run tomorrow at 5:30am. it would be so nice if everyone in my life got together and synced up their workout schedules!

what is WRONG with people?

i am surrounded by insane people. really. i have a friend who ran her 4th 24 hour run (that's right! she runs 24 hours straight and she's insane enough to do it again and again!). she clocked in 95 miles this year.

then i've got 2 friends who meet at 4:30 in the morning to run before going to the gym for their regular workout.

then, there's the perpetual ultra-runner. i can think of at least 3 from my running group who have signed up for the JFK 50 this year and have done other ultras this year.

you'd think they're single guys, right? nope! they are all married with kids... one has 4 boys, the youngest less than a year.

then there's me. just trying to stay afloat and do a little of this and a little of that.