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?

Creating Excitement

I knew this would happen. I've lost my motivation. Yes, I'm signed up for a 1/2 marathon which will be held in exactly 2 months, got sick and now have no motivation to train. I'm trying everything to move myself from being discouraged to knowing that with some hard work, I can get into shape for the October 3rd, race.

My first move, be accountable. I have come to the realization that no one in my family will hold me accountable, so I'm going to invent some accountability! (That happens to be you!) My second plan of action is to share my training schedule. Then, I'll write and tell how each part of the plan is working.

CORE TRAINING/WEIGHT LOSS
After reading many different reviews, I've decided to stick with the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. (I started the program several weeks ago and then changed my focus to just my running program.) I need to get my core in shape fast and this video claims to do that while helping an individual "lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days". Most of the reviews I've run across were posted from people who were either just starting the program or were in the first few weeks. I have not read about many people sticking with the whole 30 days. The couple of people that said they did only lost 8-10 pounds, which is great but still very normal. So, I'm going to see if I can stick pretty close to the video program and do 30 consecutive days of the Shred. Will I be "shredded" after 30 days or will I just feel like it?

The 30 Day Shred program is based on the "3-2-1 Interval System", mixing cardio, strength and abs together to increase quick results in only 20 minutes. There are 3 different levels of workouts (Level 1 - Beginners, Level 2 - Intermediate, Level 3 - Advanced). The goal is to work through each level and at the end of 30 days maximum results should be seen. Each workout is broken down to the following:
A 2 minute warm-up
Three - 6 minute circuits
*3 minutes of Strength
*2 minutes of cardio
*1 minute of abs
A 2 minute cool down
The great thing about this video, the only items needed are some hand weights and a mat if working on a hard surface.

RUNNING PROGRAM
The running portion of the program will begin by building miles during the week, working towards one long run on the weekends. Rest days are important so Wednesdays and Sundays will be targeted as resting days. However, I am flexible but I do plan on getting 5 good days of running.

Mondays will be 3-4 mile runs. Tuesdays will be speed days and on these days I'll either work on hills/inclines or running at a faster level (3-4 miles). Thursdays and Fridays will be days I try to get to Memorial Park to run outside. Building endurance in the heat takes time and I will be hoping to complete 4-5 miles on these runs. Saturdays, the long days, I will set goals as each weekend nears.

FUEL
Eating right is so important and it's the hardest challenge for me. However, if I expect faster results and want to be prepared for October I'm going to have to stick closely to a plan. I have always had great success with First Place 4 Health, so that's the eating plan I'm going to follow and will consume around 1400 calories a day. All good food plans require keeping a food diary and I am going to strive to be consistent!

There will be some meals I will be going off plan. I already know that I might eat a few more calories when I meet 2 of my best friends from high school this weekend but I will try to exercise some self-control! Also, my wedding anniversary will be coming up in the middle of this month. I am hoping that both my husband and I don't forget this year!

My last, but most important step is making sure that I have God's Word in my heart. I have never achieved my goals when God wasn't the center of my life. So, each day I am going to focus on a scripture or passage that will encourage me to endure!

I have been planning this program over the past several days and I realised that excuses are a big distraction. So, yesterday I tried to take away as many excuses as I could. I cleaned the house, washed and put away the dishes, washed and put away the clothes. Now, there is nothing around to encourage me to say, "I would work out but I need to do this first." I am working hard to set myself up for success.

So, I have weighed in this morning. No, I'm not bold enough to just put that out there! Though I did think about it....for about 2 seconds. Hopefully, by the end of this month I will have no problems sharing. But I will share any weight-loss or accomplishments each week.

*Before starting any exercise program please see your doctor. I spoke with my doctor and he told me I was overweight, so I'm sure he's o.k. with me doing this!

Flipped Out

A friend once told me that everyone has a "Rolodex" of comments in their mind. When someone says something or makes a comment, you will always flip through that Rolodex for your response. For example, when your spouse asks, "Where are my car keys?"...you might flip past the card that holds the comment..."Am I the keeper of the keys?" Flip. Flip. Flip. "IF you would put them back where they belong you wouldn't have to keep asking this question." But you will yourself to flip to that card that says the correct response and pull it out. "I don't know but let me help you look for them."

Saying the "correct response" often occurs when I feel out of my realm of authority. When I go to the doctor's office I rarely talk back or even ask questions. There is something about walking into that building, seeing the equipment, smelling the medical smells that makes me lose all of my verbal skills, not to mention my mind. The doctor holds all the knowledge. What can I say?

I threw away my Rolodex and went over the edge of reason with my new doctor.

My first visit to the doctor's office, I expected all the usual questions and scoldings. Now, I am overweight. I know this because.....I have mirrors in my house! This is not a secret. I don't have a medical degree but I do know this fact about myself. So, I wasn't that bothered when, during this initial visit, the doctor pulls out the weight/height chart and makes some suggestions about my diet and exercise routine. Flip. Flip. Flip. I wasn't thrilled but I did pull out the correct Rolodex card and say, "Yes, I'll work on it."

The second visit to the doctor's office was set so I would find out the results of my CAT scan and other tests. The first thing on tap, my blood work. My cholesterol levels were great! My kidneys were fine. Overall, my health is good. But then the doctor dared to ease into that touchy and obvious subject once more. He started explaining about my BMI (Body Mass Index) and about my height. I could feel my defensiveness kicking into high gear! But, I listened. Like a good patient, I listened....and Flipped.

Flip. Flip. Flip.

Flip. Flip. Flip.

All of a sudden, I just raised my hand. I said, "You know what? You're not telling me anything I don't know! I know that my BMI isn't right! I can clearly see that I need to lose weight! This is not a shock to me!" Then I raised both hands, curling them like little tiger claws. I continued, "When you go on and on like this, I just get defensive! I want to scream that I have been changing how I eat and I have been working out! I want to tell you that I have lost 7 lbs. and that I'm training for a 1/2 marathon! In fact, I ran 10 miles yesterday! So, you don't have to spend any more time on my diet and exercise!"

I did refrain from asking him if he could run 10 miles. My luck, he would have said he ran 20 miles the day before.

It was like a dream, years of pent-up frustration flowing out of me and on to one poor doctor. I could hear my voice fading and feel that fake smile stuck on my face. Then, as reality begin to sink in, I focused on the doctor's face. The look could be equated to how you would look if you saw a dog start talking to you. It's not that I believe no one had ever talked to him like this, I just don't think he expected this outbursts from me!

There are days, when we all lose control over the obvious situations in our lives. If it's someone making comments about our height, lack of trivia, awkwardness in public or lack of experience, bad memory...it doesn't matter. We are already aware of our weaknesses. Now wouldn't it be fun, not to mention a great stress relief, if we could just line up all the sarcastic comments and start spouting them like a machine gun? However, we summon up all our self-control, flip through that Rolodex thinking, "This one would be great." Flip. Flip. Flip. "No, this one is even better!" Then we roll around to the appropriate comment, pull out the card, take a deep breath and then read the card.

You know what I'm talking about. Because, today at work or at home...you will start thinking.... Flip. Flip. Flip. "There's no way I could say this." Flip. Flip. Flip. Now where did I put the correct response? Flip. Flip. Flip.