Yes, once again, I confess it has been too long since my last blogging entry. And once again, I will try to commit to sitting here and writing about what's going on in my journey.
Since the last time I blogged, many things have happened. I passed my NESTA certification for Personal Training and took a job with Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp. About a month after I started training, I found out I had to have surgery. During recovery, I have not been able to use my body as I would like and I miss exercising regularly. I have an appointment with my surgeon this coming Wed. and I hope to be given the "all clear" then.
During my time of healing, I was not able to run, lift weights, or do pretty much anything that brought my heart rate up. I did have some time to relax and reflect which was nice but found out quickly why I need my morning exercise. My depression returned after a few days home without exercise. I need to move to feel good.
I did return to training a couple weeks ago and have gradually been adding back exercises for me little by little.
I have put on a couple pounds since I've not been my normal, active self but am trying not to fret over it. I know once I get moving again, the pounds will slide right off!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
It's a NEW DAY
Been on blogging hiatus for a while so I figured I better get my fingers typing again and update some people on my progress.
I will be blogging again regularly on my health and fitness journey.
In case you were wondering, YES! I am still doing Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp. No! I still have not missed a day since I started 8 months ago.
The past 8 months have been incredible for so many reasons. I have found joy and motivation in myself that I never knew existed.
My body is still under construction but I believe that I am now in the best physical shape of my life. I have been able to achieve many goals that I never even would have reached for 8 months ago.
I have not only developed physical strength. I have developed the mental strength and persistence to keep going and to deal with daily challenges and stresses that, in the past, would have knocked me down and led me to believe that the only way to deal was to reach for whatever vice was closest.
I am not saying that I do not struggle with anything anymore because I do, but it's much easier for me to face struggles that come knowing that I have the strength to overcome the obstacles in my way.
This morning was a beautiful, crisp snowy morning. The sun was gleaming. I went for a run. I ran PAIN-FREE. My knees were not hurting. My feet were not hurting. My hips, not hurting. Running is still not natural for me. I have not developed a love for it. But I ran PAIN-FREE today. It felt truly amazing!!! I have shed physical pounds during this journey but the unbearable weight that I carried on my shoulders for so many years is gone. I can't describe the liberation that I feel knowing that I AM STRONG. I AM FREE. I AM the Woman that I WANT to be, not the woman that I always thought I HAD to be.
I am learning and growing every day. I have just started the process of getting certified as a Fitness Trainer.
Many women and girls carry that "weight" on their shoulders and I want so badly to help them find what they need to do to let it go. The fatal cycle of depression and anger, binging and guilt was controlling my life. I want to help others see that it is possible to break that cycle and to find hope in reconciling their body to the state that God designed for their unique purpose. I want them to know that what society says about women's bodies is WRONG and that God never intended for us to carry around shame and self-hate because of an expectation that was not even originally set by Him.
I am still learning to love the body that God created me with. Daily, I remind myself to let go of un-obtainable expectations. I do set goals for myself, though and am learning to take pride in the accomplishments that I am able to achieve.
That's enough for today, next time I'll update you on Boot Camp and what's going on in class.
I will be blogging again regularly on my health and fitness journey.
In case you were wondering, YES! I am still doing Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp. No! I still have not missed a day since I started 8 months ago.
The past 8 months have been incredible for so many reasons. I have found joy and motivation in myself that I never knew existed.
My body is still under construction but I believe that I am now in the best physical shape of my life. I have been able to achieve many goals that I never even would have reached for 8 months ago.
I have not only developed physical strength. I have developed the mental strength and persistence to keep going and to deal with daily challenges and stresses that, in the past, would have knocked me down and led me to believe that the only way to deal was to reach for whatever vice was closest.
I am not saying that I do not struggle with anything anymore because I do, but it's much easier for me to face struggles that come knowing that I have the strength to overcome the obstacles in my way.
This morning was a beautiful, crisp snowy morning. The sun was gleaming. I went for a run. I ran PAIN-FREE. My knees were not hurting. My feet were not hurting. My hips, not hurting. Running is still not natural for me. I have not developed a love for it. But I ran PAIN-FREE today. It felt truly amazing!!! I have shed physical pounds during this journey but the unbearable weight that I carried on my shoulders for so many years is gone. I can't describe the liberation that I feel knowing that I AM STRONG. I AM FREE. I AM the Woman that I WANT to be, not the woman that I always thought I HAD to be.
I am learning and growing every day. I have just started the process of getting certified as a Fitness Trainer.
Many women and girls carry that "weight" on their shoulders and I want so badly to help them find what they need to do to let it go. The fatal cycle of depression and anger, binging and guilt was controlling my life. I want to help others see that it is possible to break that cycle and to find hope in reconciling their body to the state that God designed for their unique purpose. I want them to know that what society says about women's bodies is WRONG and that God never intended for us to carry around shame and self-hate because of an expectation that was not even originally set by Him.
I am still learning to love the body that God created me with. Daily, I remind myself to let go of un-obtainable expectations. I do set goals for myself, though and am learning to take pride in the accomplishments that I am able to achieve.
That's enough for today, next time I'll update you on Boot Camp and what's going on in class.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Session 3 FitPar Final Assessment
Last night, I was determined to get in bed by 11 so I could be well-rested this morning for FitPar. At 11:24, I tucked myself in, tossed and turned just a little bit, but was probably asleep by about midnight. So I did get a full five hours but next time, I'm going to aim for an in-bed- time of 10 so that I can be to sleep by 11. I guess we'll see how that works out.
This morning, I got up and got myself ready. My stomach wasn't feeling the best so I did grab a protein bar on the way out the door but only took one bite of it for fear that if I ate any more, I might have had to deal with a little "surprise" during or at the end of my mile.
When I arrived at the park, we started with some stretching and a quickie warm-up. We headed over to the start of the mile for Dips. I was happy that I beat my last Dips score but still had a bit of queasiness going on in my stomach which I'm sure was magnified by the nervousness I feel every time I consciously try to break a personal best time score. Before I knew it, we were off. I borrowed a friend's IPOD today and the music selection was great! I started out at a slightly faster pace than I have before and I felt really good until I was a bit over half way there and then I realized that I was slowing down just a bit. I tried to maintain a strong pace but my usual sprint over the bridge was definitely harder and slower this time. During that last home-stretch, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest at any second. As I crossed the finish line, Rob called out my time. 7:57!!! I had done it!!! I was so excited!!! I punched my fists up in the air knowing that I had broken my personal best time record and had gotten my mile under 8 minutes. Pride for what MY body had just accomplished overwhelmed me with a wave of other emotions. Excitement, strength, thankfulness, maybe a little bit of dis-belief... I think I even felt tears welling up in my smiling eyes. Again, it's not anywhere near a "great time" for a "runner" but for me, under 8 minutes is something I never believed that I would be able to achieve. In just three months, I'VE been able to knock off almost 3 1/2 minutes. To ME, that is something that I can be proud FOR ME.
The biggest reason I share that is to give encouragement. I hope whoever is reading this understands that it's not about the "time". IT REAALLLLY ISN'T!!! For some, a Mile time of 5 minutes isn't fast enough and for some a Mile time of 20 minutes is AMAZING!!!!! For some, just being able to complete a mile is a huge personal success!!!!! Boot Camp has given me chances to make and meet personal goals. Not compare myself to others. It's important for me to be able to have "personal bests" because it helps me gauge the physical strength and endurance of my own body. I know that in the past, I have not always taken care of it and every time I achieve a new personal best, it makes me feel good because I know that I am moving closer to the Wendy Design that God had in the original plans for my own body. I know that God created my body to move because when I move, I feel good (physically and mentally) and when I am lazy and lethargic, I feel bad. For ME, the acceptance of that one fact has been a HUGE mind-shift and has given me a better understanding of how to deal with me. Again, I'm talking about ME.
OK, so I'm stepping down off the soapbox now.
Here are my scores for FitPar:
(old scores in red, new scores in blue)
1 Mile
8:04 7:57
25's (Ammo Can Lifts)
49 45 (Hmmm, went down just a bit, maybe because we did push-ups first?)
Bench Dips
43 47
Crunches
103 105
Front Plank
3:30 3:45
*I do admit it. There was a little bit of competition going on with this one today. Thanks, Amy!
Push Ups
36 47 (not too shabby!)
Reverse Crunches
71 68 (Eh, down 3, prob. shouldn't have rested in the middle.)
Split Squats
56 70 (I can still feel the nagging behind my heel every time I do this one...)
Suicide Shuttle
17 seconds 16 seconds
I'm excited for tomorrow and a little sad that it's my last day of this session. It seems like this month has gone so fast. I'm trying not to be anxious about next week. I'm determined to work out every day, I'm just not sure what company I will or will not have. I have signed up for September and am planning on continuing with my 5-day a week Boot Camp schedule. I'm already excited for the next session and I'm looking forward to new challenges and personal goals.
Again, if you're reading this, even if you can't join "Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp", treat your body and your mind to the gift of excersise. Yes, I did call it a "gift". You'll probably have to make some sacrifices (some may be small, some may seem really BIG) along the way but they will seem trivial down the road when you compare what you've given up to what you've gained. I promise!!!
I already know you can do it. Now we just need to convince you...
Believe it!!!!!!!
This morning, I got up and got myself ready. My stomach wasn't feeling the best so I did grab a protein bar on the way out the door but only took one bite of it for fear that if I ate any more, I might have had to deal with a little "surprise" during or at the end of my mile.
When I arrived at the park, we started with some stretching and a quickie warm-up. We headed over to the start of the mile for Dips. I was happy that I beat my last Dips score but still had a bit of queasiness going on in my stomach which I'm sure was magnified by the nervousness I feel every time I consciously try to break a personal best time score. Before I knew it, we were off. I borrowed a friend's IPOD today and the music selection was great! I started out at a slightly faster pace than I have before and I felt really good until I was a bit over half way there and then I realized that I was slowing down just a bit. I tried to maintain a strong pace but my usual sprint over the bridge was definitely harder and slower this time. During that last home-stretch, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest at any second. As I crossed the finish line, Rob called out my time. 7:57!!! I had done it!!! I was so excited!!! I punched my fists up in the air knowing that I had broken my personal best time record and had gotten my mile under 8 minutes. Pride for what MY body had just accomplished overwhelmed me with a wave of other emotions. Excitement, strength, thankfulness, maybe a little bit of dis-belief... I think I even felt tears welling up in my smiling eyes. Again, it's not anywhere near a "great time" for a "runner" but for me, under 8 minutes is something I never believed that I would be able to achieve. In just three months, I'VE been able to knock off almost 3 1/2 minutes. To ME, that is something that I can be proud FOR ME.
The biggest reason I share that is to give encouragement. I hope whoever is reading this understands that it's not about the "time". IT REAALLLLY ISN'T!!! For some, a Mile time of 5 minutes isn't fast enough and for some a Mile time of 20 minutes is AMAZING!!!!! For some, just being able to complete a mile is a huge personal success!!!!! Boot Camp has given me chances to make and meet personal goals. Not compare myself to others. It's important for me to be able to have "personal bests" because it helps me gauge the physical strength and endurance of my own body. I know that in the past, I have not always taken care of it and every time I achieve a new personal best, it makes me feel good because I know that I am moving closer to the Wendy Design that God had in the original plans for my own body. I know that God created my body to move because when I move, I feel good (physically and mentally) and when I am lazy and lethargic, I feel bad. For ME, the acceptance of that one fact has been a HUGE mind-shift and has given me a better understanding of how to deal with me. Again, I'm talking about ME.
OK, so I'm stepping down off the soapbox now.
Here are my scores for FitPar:
(old scores in red, new scores in blue)
1 Mile
8:04 7:57
25's (Ammo Can Lifts)
49 45 (Hmmm, went down just a bit, maybe because we did push-ups first?)
Bench Dips
43 47
Crunches
103 105
Front Plank
3:30 3:45
*I do admit it. There was a little bit of competition going on with this one today. Thanks, Amy!
Push Ups
36 47 (not too shabby!)
Reverse Crunches
71 68 (Eh, down 3, prob. shouldn't have rested in the middle.)
Split Squats
56 70 (I can still feel the nagging behind my heel every time I do this one...)
Suicide Shuttle
17 seconds 16 seconds
I'm excited for tomorrow and a little sad that it's my last day of this session. It seems like this month has gone so fast. I'm trying not to be anxious about next week. I'm determined to work out every day, I'm just not sure what company I will or will not have. I have signed up for September and am planning on continuing with my 5-day a week Boot Camp schedule. I'm already excited for the next session and I'm looking forward to new challenges and personal goals.
Again, if you're reading this, even if you can't join "Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp", treat your body and your mind to the gift of excersise. Yes, I did call it a "gift". You'll probably have to make some sacrifices (some may be small, some may seem really BIG) along the way but they will seem trivial down the road when you compare what you've given up to what you've gained. I promise!!!
I already know you can do it. Now we just need to convince you...
Believe it!!!!!!!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Yes, I know, I haven't kept up with my daily blog. I'm sorry :-(
So I've been busy. Not just something here and there on the weekend busy but the kind of busy where every waking hour of every day is scheduled. I can't wait until next week because the boys will be back to school and I'll be back to a semi-normal schedule. So again, I apologize to those of you who do read my blog and I'll try to at least do updates a couple times a week starting next week.
So we're in our last week of this session and it has literally flown!!! I'm still feeling great and still look forward to every morning's challenge. We've been busy at Boot Camp. We've done TRX training, traveling, new circuits and today was Bring-A-Friend day.
I am feeling like Boot Camp is part of my every day life and schedule now. I do have to be careful, though because I've been catching myself not giving 100% on every single task lately and I know that the only person that loses in that is me.
Tomorrow is our FitPar assessment and I am ready for it. I hope to get a full 7 hours of sleep tonight and my biggest goal for tomorrow is to get my mile under 8 minutes.
I have been training in running a bit more intense on the weekends because I have a few events that I am participating in soon. I have an Alzheimer's walk in September, a 5K and (drum roll, please...) a half-marathon in October. I am excited about these events but I am very nervous about the half-marathon. I am not planning on running the whole 13 Miles, I'm sure I'll have to walk some of it. Last weekend, I did manage to do 8 Miles with a small amount of walking and I averaged about 12 minutes a mile. This weekend, I am going to do another long run and try to maintain a more steady pace. Please pray for 3 things for me. First, that I may be able to finish strong in the half-marathon (even if that means walking some). Second, that I can avoid injury and re-injury throughout the training process and during the events. And third, that I might be able to focus more on healthy food choices as I still struggle daily with what I am fueling my body with (especially when the days get stressful).
Next week is our week between sessions and I know that there are at least a few of us that are going to continue to meet (and we are open to joiners if you wish). I am hopeful that we can push ourselves to keep up the intensity and to meet daily.
I will try to update more frequently next week. As for now, I'm off to hit the showers and head out to another slammed day at the salon!
So we're in our last week of this session and it has literally flown!!! I'm still feeling great and still look forward to every morning's challenge. We've been busy at Boot Camp. We've done TRX training, traveling, new circuits and today was Bring-A-Friend day.
I am feeling like Boot Camp is part of my every day life and schedule now. I do have to be careful, though because I've been catching myself not giving 100% on every single task lately and I know that the only person that loses in that is me.
Tomorrow is our FitPar assessment and I am ready for it. I hope to get a full 7 hours of sleep tonight and my biggest goal for tomorrow is to get my mile under 8 minutes.
I have been training in running a bit more intense on the weekends because I have a few events that I am participating in soon. I have an Alzheimer's walk in September, a 5K and (drum roll, please...) a half-marathon in October. I am excited about these events but I am very nervous about the half-marathon. I am not planning on running the whole 13 Miles, I'm sure I'll have to walk some of it. Last weekend, I did manage to do 8 Miles with a small amount of walking and I averaged about 12 minutes a mile. This weekend, I am going to do another long run and try to maintain a more steady pace. Please pray for 3 things for me. First, that I may be able to finish strong in the half-marathon (even if that means walking some). Second, that I can avoid injury and re-injury throughout the training process and during the events. And third, that I might be able to focus more on healthy food choices as I still struggle daily with what I am fueling my body with (especially when the days get stressful).
Next week is our week between sessions and I know that there are at least a few of us that are going to continue to meet (and we are open to joiners if you wish). I am hopeful that we can push ourselves to keep up the intensity and to meet daily.
I will try to update more frequently next week. As for now, I'm off to hit the showers and head out to another slammed day at the salon!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
R3 Week 2
So daily blog-readers, again, I apologize for neglecting my daily writing duties. I've had a more than overflowing plate the past few weeks and somehow my blog has been one of the things that I just can't seem to get to on a daily basis. But here's the summary of the past few days:
Last Thursday was our Fit Par assessment and I did overall pretty well. I improved on a few things, maintained on a few things and lost a little bit on a few things. Rob changed the format a little bit so I wasn't able to completely gauge how much or little improvement I've had in certain areas but I am happy to report that my mile time was 8:04!!!!! And that's my best time as of yet!!! My new goal will be to make it under 8 minutes so if I can knock just another 5 seconds off, I'll be there.
Here are my assessment scores:
1 Mile
8:04
*That's 32 seconds off my last time and 3:19 seconds off my original Mile time!!! Yeah :-)
25's (something new for assessments, lifting 25 lb. ammo boxes above our heads) 49
Bench Dips
43
*I stayed the same on this one
Crunches
103
*improved by 2
Front Plank
3:31
*lost four seconds (Hmm, I guess I'll shoot for 3:45 next time around.)
Push Ups
36
*improved by 2
Reverse Crunches
71
*lost 3
Split Squats (also new for FitPar)
56
Suicide Shuttle (new)
17 seconds
This week, we've had 2 really challenging workouts so far and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week to see what's ahead. Yesterday morning was a little tough to get moving because I did not work out on Saturday. This morning, it was extremely humid after the rain and we worked out in the covered parking lot which is definitely not my favorite place to be but I made it though and I feel great! Intensity Levels have been consistent and I would say between the 8.8-9.3 range which is really good.
I am continuing to feel better about myself everyday. I am not using the scale on a daily basis and there are even weeks that I do not weigh myself. I know that I can finally say that it really isn't about a "weight issue" anymore but about how using my body as it was designed makes me feel. And more often lately, I'm feeling strong, accomplished and confident. I'm facing life's challenges head-on and with open arms instead of cowering from them under the covers. I am learning to be transparent with people regardless of how I think they may feel about me because of it. I really do feel like this has now become part of my daily routine but I must honestly admit that even after 2 consistent months, I still have mornings that if it weren't for the accountability that Boot Camp provides, I probably would stay in bed.
So, I continue to keep my "Boot Camp Envelope" and fill it with my little "extra" dollars and cents any chance I get (even though there doesn't seem to be as much extra lately). Every time I get the urge to stop at Starbucks or somewhere else for a "treat" or see a pair of shoes that I "need" (want), I stop, take a deep breath and think about how I felt after that morning's session and why I need to make Boot Camp my indulgence and 95% of the time, I keep right on moving without looking back. (Hey, no one is perfect 100% of the time and Starbucks has a way of knowing just how to tempt me in my weakest moments...)
I keep moving forward and pressing on every day even though I have struggles. Boot Camp hasn't solved life's problems for me. Being "more fit" hasn't made me immune to life's challenges. But every single morning, I use the God-given blessing of that 1 hour of "me time" to the fullest!!! And when I'm driving home, 100% of the time, I genuinely feel better and more equipped to deal with the day's trials, tasks, and challenges. And I guarantee that there's NO "happy pill" out there that can boast those results!!!
Last Thursday was our Fit Par assessment and I did overall pretty well. I improved on a few things, maintained on a few things and lost a little bit on a few things. Rob changed the format a little bit so I wasn't able to completely gauge how much or little improvement I've had in certain areas but I am happy to report that my mile time was 8:04!!!!! And that's my best time as of yet!!! My new goal will be to make it under 8 minutes so if I can knock just another 5 seconds off, I'll be there.
Here are my assessment scores:
1 Mile
8:04
*That's 32 seconds off my last time and 3:19 seconds off my original Mile time!!! Yeah :-)
25's (something new for assessments, lifting 25 lb. ammo boxes above our heads) 49
Bench Dips
43
*I stayed the same on this one
Crunches
103
*improved by 2
Front Plank
3:31
*lost four seconds (Hmm, I guess I'll shoot for 3:45 next time around.)
Push Ups
36
*improved by 2
Reverse Crunches
71
*lost 3
Split Squats (also new for FitPar)
56
Suicide Shuttle (new)
17 seconds
This week, we've had 2 really challenging workouts so far and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week to see what's ahead. Yesterday morning was a little tough to get moving because I did not work out on Saturday. This morning, it was extremely humid after the rain and we worked out in the covered parking lot which is definitely not my favorite place to be but I made it though and I feel great! Intensity Levels have been consistent and I would say between the 8.8-9.3 range which is really good.
I am continuing to feel better about myself everyday. I am not using the scale on a daily basis and there are even weeks that I do not weigh myself. I know that I can finally say that it really isn't about a "weight issue" anymore but about how using my body as it was designed makes me feel. And more often lately, I'm feeling strong, accomplished and confident. I'm facing life's challenges head-on and with open arms instead of cowering from them under the covers. I am learning to be transparent with people regardless of how I think they may feel about me because of it. I really do feel like this has now become part of my daily routine but I must honestly admit that even after 2 consistent months, I still have mornings that if it weren't for the accountability that Boot Camp provides, I probably would stay in bed.
So, I continue to keep my "Boot Camp Envelope" and fill it with my little "extra" dollars and cents any chance I get (even though there doesn't seem to be as much extra lately). Every time I get the urge to stop at Starbucks or somewhere else for a "treat" or see a pair of shoes that I "need" (want), I stop, take a deep breath and think about how I felt after that morning's session and why I need to make Boot Camp my indulgence and 95% of the time, I keep right on moving without looking back. (Hey, no one is perfect 100% of the time and Starbucks has a way of knowing just how to tempt me in my weakest moments...)
I keep moving forward and pressing on every day even though I have struggles. Boot Camp hasn't solved life's problems for me. Being "more fit" hasn't made me immune to life's challenges. But every single morning, I use the God-given blessing of that 1 hour of "me time" to the fullest!!! And when I'm driving home, 100% of the time, I genuinely feel better and more equipped to deal with the day's trials, tasks, and challenges. And I guarantee that there's NO "happy pill" out there that can boast those results!!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Round 3 Here We Go
Okay, so I was informed today that there are people still reading this thing so I guess I have to keep it up. My hope is that it will continue to encourage and motivate you.
So last week (the week between sessions), I was able to keep up workouts every day. I was planning on running on Saturday but we had some torrential down pouring rain so I didn't make it out. Sunday, we had plans pretty much all day so I took Sunday off too. I did feel tired and missed the workouts but it was nice to have a few days to relax.
Sunday evening, we had our pre-Boot Camp physical measurements and assessments. I am happy to report that I am still on track and improving in inches, flexibility and strength. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that I had dropped a few pounds this time. I realize now that the pounds really do not matter in the grand scheme of things but still, it was nice to see a number that reflected a change.
Monday morning, again, there were downpours and storms and I woke up a few minutes too late. I arrived 5 minutes late for my first day but just in time to start warm-ups. We warmed up for a few minutes before heading into a circuit filled with resistance band pushes and pulls, step-ups, jump-ropes, mountain climbers, push ups, shuttles and crunches. We moved on to some weights and abs before finishing with some stretching.
I was given a new set of 10 lb. weights by two of the other campers that worked out with me last week. Katherine and Amy said it was because I worked out with them but honestly, I would have been there regardless and they helped push me to run faster than I probably would've if they wouldn't have been there. It was truly an unexpected surprise but so nice of them to think of me. And it was truly something that I had been wanting to purchase but didn't have the extra funds for, a need met without even an ask. Thanks, Guys!!!
Anyway, back to the blog, I was pretty physically tired and noticed that some of the things that would typically not be a problem for me were draining. I'm not sure if it was that I took those two days off or that I had lacked in sleep over the weekend but I definitely could have worked a bit harder so I made a commitment to do better the rest of the week and arrive on time and ready to push myself.
Intensity Level : 7.5
Last night, I got in bed on time and this morning, I got out of bed as soon as the alarm went off. I had a small breakfast and was able to enjoy a few minutes of quiet solitude and reflection before heading out the door. That is something that I need to take more time for daily. I arrived on time and glanced around. There were several new faces that I hadn't seen before. The first week is always a good week to get to know who will be good for motivating me and who I might want to avoid when working out. I find myself striving to keep pace with those who are physically a bit stronger/faster than me because it gives me a goal to work towards.
After we did a light warm-up, we did a partner jogging circuit with pit-stops for soldier kicks, jumping jacks, switch jumps (I forgot what they're really called), squats and cross knee-ups. After we finished that, we had time for a quick drink and to catch our breath before beginning the next circuit. We were paired up and headed out to do push ups, dips, hoop-jacks, skater squats, sissy squats, body bar lifts, res. pushes and pulls. The first time through, we did the circuit with a partner. The second time through, by ourselves, at our own pace. I resolved to push myself today and I did. I completed every rep asked of me, I focused on accuracy of form and maximum resistance levels on all tasks. I felt strong today and other than a tiny bit of nagging from my foot, I finished with relatively no struggles (I didn't say it was easy, just no added struggles...).
Today's Intensity Level : 8-9 (varied at different times)
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the week. I'm looking ahead to Thursday for my Fit Par test so that I can set new goals for this round. I feel good. I feel STRONG and I'm ready to do this (again)!!!!!!!
So last week (the week between sessions), I was able to keep up workouts every day. I was planning on running on Saturday but we had some torrential down pouring rain so I didn't make it out. Sunday, we had plans pretty much all day so I took Sunday off too. I did feel tired and missed the workouts but it was nice to have a few days to relax.
Sunday evening, we had our pre-Boot Camp physical measurements and assessments. I am happy to report that I am still on track and improving in inches, flexibility and strength. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that I had dropped a few pounds this time. I realize now that the pounds really do not matter in the grand scheme of things but still, it was nice to see a number that reflected a change.
Monday morning, again, there were downpours and storms and I woke up a few minutes too late. I arrived 5 minutes late for my first day but just in time to start warm-ups. We warmed up for a few minutes before heading into a circuit filled with resistance band pushes and pulls, step-ups, jump-ropes, mountain climbers, push ups, shuttles and crunches. We moved on to some weights and abs before finishing with some stretching.
I was given a new set of 10 lb. weights by two of the other campers that worked out with me last week. Katherine and Amy said it was because I worked out with them but honestly, I would have been there regardless and they helped push me to run faster than I probably would've if they wouldn't have been there. It was truly an unexpected surprise but so nice of them to think of me. And it was truly something that I had been wanting to purchase but didn't have the extra funds for, a need met without even an ask. Thanks, Guys!!!
Anyway, back to the blog, I was pretty physically tired and noticed that some of the things that would typically not be a problem for me were draining. I'm not sure if it was that I took those two days off or that I had lacked in sleep over the weekend but I definitely could have worked a bit harder so I made a commitment to do better the rest of the week and arrive on time and ready to push myself.
Intensity Level : 7.5
Last night, I got in bed on time and this morning, I got out of bed as soon as the alarm went off. I had a small breakfast and was able to enjoy a few minutes of quiet solitude and reflection before heading out the door. That is something that I need to take more time for daily. I arrived on time and glanced around. There were several new faces that I hadn't seen before. The first week is always a good week to get to know who will be good for motivating me and who I might want to avoid when working out. I find myself striving to keep pace with those who are physically a bit stronger/faster than me because it gives me a goal to work towards.
After we did a light warm-up, we did a partner jogging circuit with pit-stops for soldier kicks, jumping jacks, switch jumps (I forgot what they're really called), squats and cross knee-ups. After we finished that, we had time for a quick drink and to catch our breath before beginning the next circuit. We were paired up and headed out to do push ups, dips, hoop-jacks, skater squats, sissy squats, body bar lifts, res. pushes and pulls. The first time through, we did the circuit with a partner. The second time through, by ourselves, at our own pace. I resolved to push myself today and I did. I completed every rep asked of me, I focused on accuracy of form and maximum resistance levels on all tasks. I felt strong today and other than a tiny bit of nagging from my foot, I finished with relatively no struggles (I didn't say it was easy, just no added struggles...).
Today's Intensity Level : 8-9 (varied at different times)
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the week. I'm looking ahead to Thursday for my Fit Par test so that I can set new goals for this round. I feel good. I feel STRONG and I'm ready to do this (again)!!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Week Between Sessions Update
My week off of Boot Camp has been relatively anxiety free so far. I am always concerned about the accountability part of working out but this week, each day, there have been others that have met me downtown.
On Saturday morning, we were having a Garage Sale so I got up early, donned my resistance band and my MP3 player and went for a run. I did approximately a 2 Mile loop stopping about 3/4 of the way for some target work. I did dips, crunches, resistance band pushes and pulls, squats, sprints, curb push ups, step-ups, and a bit of other ab work before making my way home. I felt great afterwards knowing that I had made the decision to get up and had pushed myself to work hard in the time that I had.
Intensity Level : 8.8
I took Sunday off to rest and enjoy my friends and family.
Monday morning came early and I headed downtown hopeful that someone would show up to work out with me. There were three of us and we decided to do the Mile loop with pit stops. We did 3-way calf-raises, squat-backs, assisted spread-eagle jumps, push ups, lunges, wall sits, dips and push ups, and reverse crunches. After we returned to home camp, we did lots of ab work before treating ourselves to a few longer-than-usual stretches. It was a great work-out and I was in good company.
Intensity Level : 8.9
Tuesday morning, I was pretty tired but that wasn't going to stop me from heading down. Stephanie taught on Tuesday and it was a full-body, hard work out. We warmed up with a ten minute run which we haven't done in a while. It was nice to run again with relatively no pain in my foot. The air was extremely hot and felt heavy and I had to cover my mouth when running through certain areas because of the swarms of gnats and bugs. When we returned, we did lots of hand weight arm work with stability leg work integrated then moved on to resistance band work and push ups and dips followed by ab work then stretching. We were all fully-sweat-drenched at the end of class because of the heat and humidity but I felt really strong afterwards.
Intensity Level : 9
This morning, there were three of us that met. We did a run towards the "Plainfield Steps" and along the way, we stopped for step-ups, sprints, robot walks, step-up hip raises, steps, push ups and dips. We decided upon arriving at the steps that because it was still pretty dark, we would avoid them for safety. (I am determined to hit those steps sometime this week, even if it's on my own.) We made our way back to home camp and did some weights and ab work before stretching.
Intensity Level : 8
I am looking forward to tomorrow's class with Stephanie and Friday and Saturday mornings. I am feeling stressed this week but my work-outs are helping me release some of that stress and cope with situations of frustration. I have been tired getting up but once I've started working out, energy begins to flow into me and it lasts through most of the day.
This week, I have noticed a change in my clothing. Many of the items that I have not even considered wearing in years are making it out of my closet and onto my body (many of them haven't been worn out of the house yet, but, hey, baby steps, right?). I have to admit that I'm anxious to do our re-assessments on Sunday and find out where I'm really at with measurements and in pounds. But I must also say that I am feeling great most of the time now and my outlook is happy which truly is the most important thing.
Physical exercise continues to be a daily blessing for me and has been the tool that I have needed for so long in my life to equip me with the confidence and allow me to find the inner-strength I've needed to be successful in many areas of my life that have lacked in the past. I do believe that all things are simply gifts to us and that we are designed to have the free will to choose how we use or do not use them. Every day, I want to make the most of what I've been given in all areas of my life but my physical body needs to be a priority and I don't feel guilty anymore making it one. It really is the only body I have and if it isn't working properly, I have to make the conscious decision to do something about it and give it my full attention for tune-ups and repairs (ok, sometimes complete overhauls too!) every chance I get.
I'm to a point now where I don't see daily exercise as a chore but as a part of my every day routine for well-being. I enjoy it and I want to do it. If I miss it, my body feels lethargic and my mind feels stressed. I have made the decision to make daily exercise a PRIORITY and even though it means that I have to sacrifice some other things in my life, I realize that the mental and physical benefits that I get from it completely outweigh the sacrifices I have to make to do it.
On Saturday morning, we were having a Garage Sale so I got up early, donned my resistance band and my MP3 player and went for a run. I did approximately a 2 Mile loop stopping about 3/4 of the way for some target work. I did dips, crunches, resistance band pushes and pulls, squats, sprints, curb push ups, step-ups, and a bit of other ab work before making my way home. I felt great afterwards knowing that I had made the decision to get up and had pushed myself to work hard in the time that I had.
Intensity Level : 8.8
I took Sunday off to rest and enjoy my friends and family.
Monday morning came early and I headed downtown hopeful that someone would show up to work out with me. There were three of us and we decided to do the Mile loop with pit stops. We did 3-way calf-raises, squat-backs, assisted spread-eagle jumps, push ups, lunges, wall sits, dips and push ups, and reverse crunches. After we returned to home camp, we did lots of ab work before treating ourselves to a few longer-than-usual stretches. It was a great work-out and I was in good company.
Intensity Level : 8.9
Tuesday morning, I was pretty tired but that wasn't going to stop me from heading down. Stephanie taught on Tuesday and it was a full-body, hard work out. We warmed up with a ten minute run which we haven't done in a while. It was nice to run again with relatively no pain in my foot. The air was extremely hot and felt heavy and I had to cover my mouth when running through certain areas because of the swarms of gnats and bugs. When we returned, we did lots of hand weight arm work with stability leg work integrated then moved on to resistance band work and push ups and dips followed by ab work then stretching. We were all fully-sweat-drenched at the end of class because of the heat and humidity but I felt really strong afterwards.
Intensity Level : 9
This morning, there were three of us that met. We did a run towards the "Plainfield Steps" and along the way, we stopped for step-ups, sprints, robot walks, step-up hip raises, steps, push ups and dips. We decided upon arriving at the steps that because it was still pretty dark, we would avoid them for safety. (I am determined to hit those steps sometime this week, even if it's on my own.) We made our way back to home camp and did some weights and ab work before stretching.
Intensity Level : 8
I am looking forward to tomorrow's class with Stephanie and Friday and Saturday mornings. I am feeling stressed this week but my work-outs are helping me release some of that stress and cope with situations of frustration. I have been tired getting up but once I've started working out, energy begins to flow into me and it lasts through most of the day.
This week, I have noticed a change in my clothing. Many of the items that I have not even considered wearing in years are making it out of my closet and onto my body (many of them haven't been worn out of the house yet, but, hey, baby steps, right?). I have to admit that I'm anxious to do our re-assessments on Sunday and find out where I'm really at with measurements and in pounds. But I must also say that I am feeling great most of the time now and my outlook is happy which truly is the most important thing.
Physical exercise continues to be a daily blessing for me and has been the tool that I have needed for so long in my life to equip me with the confidence and allow me to find the inner-strength I've needed to be successful in many areas of my life that have lacked in the past. I do believe that all things are simply gifts to us and that we are designed to have the free will to choose how we use or do not use them. Every day, I want to make the most of what I've been given in all areas of my life but my physical body needs to be a priority and I don't feel guilty anymore making it one. It really is the only body I have and if it isn't working properly, I have to make the conscious decision to do something about it and give it my full attention for tune-ups and repairs (ok, sometimes complete overhauls too!) every chance I get.
I'm to a point now where I don't see daily exercise as a chore but as a part of my every day routine for well-being. I enjoy it and I want to do it. If I miss it, my body feels lethargic and my mind feels stressed. I have made the decision to make daily exercise a PRIORITY and even though it means that I have to sacrifice some other things in my life, I realize that the mental and physical benefits that I get from it completely outweigh the sacrifices I have to make to do it.
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