New Week, New Level

After much fear and trepidation, I began Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. I finished, not well, but I did finish! I felt like I was confused a large part of the 20 minutes. Most of the confusion came from not knowing how to execute each move. I'm sure over the next week to week and a half, I'll know the moves better than I care to know them! Not knowing what was coming next, made the workout fly by. I like that. Being done is good. I do look forward to being able to do the moves without wondering, "Now how am I supposed to do what?" There seemed to not be as much impact on my knees during this level. In fact, just on face value, I enjoyed this level a little more than the first. However, I'll report if my opinion has changed as the days go by.

Level 2 does have more push-up/plank type moves. Since I always joke that "I have no upper body strength" these are difficult for me. I pushed myself a little today to complete the plank-jacks, which I can only describe as a move that was invented by Satan himself. Down in a beginning push-up stance, you are supposed to do a "jumping jack" while bracing your hands on the floor. I must say I didn't even attempt one "real" move. I did the beginner's, only moving one leg out at a time. This was tough enough! I did attempt and complete most of the plank-twists. I think it was because I knew it was the last exercise and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I ran a nice steady 4 miles today (only about 8 minute miles). I alternated my miles between flat and a slight incline. First mile flat, second incline, third flat and then the last on an incline. Not really an interval run but still a good workout. I just hope the fitness room gets a new air conditioner. The room is around 88 degrees and just horrible to run in. On the bright side, I'm getting acclimated to the heat outside!

Now, if I could just get my meals in line with my workouts I would be super fit! hahaha

Victory:

4 lbs. gone

Don't quit on yourself!

First Week Completed

It is 10:30 p.m. and sitting at the computer, I am happy to write, I have completed my first full week of doing the 30 Day Shred! Most importantly, I'm still alive. It's a miracle. Even with a quick trip to San Antonio thrown into the mix, I worked out to the DVD every day this week. There is still a little tightness in my quads but overall, I feel like I have finished this first week pretty strong.

Tonight, Skip joined me and it encouraged me greatly to have someone working out with me. He doesn't do a workout every day, so there was some difficulty but overall he did well. However, the downstairs neighbor had different thoughts about us working out together. She came knocking at the door to let us know her pictures were falling off the walls! Try doing jumping jacks lightly....it's impossible.

The only workout I was not able to complete this week was my long weekend run. I have absolutely no excuse. I just messed around on Saturday and didn't commit to having the run completed before the trip to San Antonio. Even though that did frustrate me a little, I am still o.k. with at least having one accomplishment this week. Which brings me to my eating plan. It has been horrible. I feel like I have not shown any self-control at all. If I really want to see any real rewards I need to get that under control. I haven't thrown myself into healthy eating, as I have doing the DVD. Of course, there will be no major change in my physical fitness unless I do that....and tonight one of my neighbors brought over birthday cake! Great! That will really help! (I should have screamed and slammed the door!) In fact, her phrasing was "I know you have been working out but I have so much cake left over and I really need to get rid of it." It was almost as if there should have been more to the sentence, "I know you have been working out but I have so much cake left over and I really need to get rid of it....because you are a big eater."

One day several weeks ago, a 20-something man approached me while I was with a friend. He told me he had seen me working out. He asked me about my running and if I had run that day. Then turning to my friend he said, "I've seen her and she can really run." But the sentence sounded like there was a missing part. His voice indicated the sentence would have been completed this way, "I've seen her and she can really run....for an old fat lady."

I'm not bitter. Really, I'm not.

Actually, I'm still happy and upbeat about my quest! Small goals, small steps and small changes make a permanent lifestyle. Like the old Bill Murray movie "What About Bob", it's all about "baby steps"!

Tomorrow, I will try Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. I'm nervous. Will I survive?