October 16 - 31 Workout Schedule

Monday, October 13, 2008

Now that it's all scheduled, I guess I'd better have as many places to track for accountability as I can find!!!


Thursday, October 16, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Thursday, October 16, 2008 43 min cardio

Friday, October 17, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Friday, October 17, 2008 62 min cardio

Saturday, October 18, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Saturday, October 18, 2008 105 min cardio

Sunday, October 19, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Sunday, October 19, 2008 50 min cardio

Monday, October 20, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Monday, October 20, 2008 73 min cardio

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 50 min cardio

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 82 min cardio

Thursday, October 23, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Thursday, October 23, 2008 110 min cardio

Friday, October 24, 2008 30 Day Shred Level

Friday, October 24, 2008 42 min cardio

Saturday, October 25, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Saturday, October 25, 2008 110 min cardio

Sunday, October 26, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Sunday, October 26, 2008 60 min cardio

Monday, October 27, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Monday, October 27, 2008 68 min cardio

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 82 min cardio

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 57 min cardio

Thursday, October 30, 2008 30 Day Shred Level 1

Thursday, October 30, 2008 45 min cardio

Friday, October 31, 2008 30 min cardio (BONUS!!!)

  

October 13, 2008

Monday, October 13, 2008

I intensified my workout this morning to see if I have the cardiovascular endurance and mental fortitude to push beyond my current fitness levels. It wasn't exactly the easiest workout, but then again Monday morning workouts are never my best of the week. Not only did I complete my Shred workout, but I also pushed my way through 50 minutes of low impact cardio. I've never done that on a work morning. My energy levels ebbed and flowed, but in the end I persevered!!! YEAH ME!!!!!

I do believe I'm ready to tackle a 45 day challenge before the holiday season gets under way. YEP, that means revising the October goals yet again, but also setting the November goals as well. So here's the basic plan...15 days of 30 Day Shred Level 1 with alternating 42 min step workouts and 40 - 50 min mixed impact cardio workouts (10/16 - 10/31); 15 days of 30 Day Shred Level 2 with alternating 42 min step workouts and 40 -50 min mixed-impact cardio workout (11/1 - 11/15); 15 days of 30 Day Shred Level 3 with alternating 42 min step workouts and 40 - 50 min mixed-impact cardio workout (11/16 - 11/30). The only wiggle room will be in trading off morning cardio for evening cardio on low energy mornings. The first week of December will be a low intensity, cardio only week to allow for a complete recovery.

I'll be honest...I've typed it out in my planning spreadsheet and I've typed it out here - and just seeing both versions in black and white is already scaring the crap out of me. Ah, but fear is not the enemy here. I'll never know what I'm capable of unless I set the bar high enough to really challenge myself. By taking it one workout at a time...I know that I can, and I will.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

W8FALNOFF 10/13/2008 1:13PM

I know you can and I know you will too... Another trick to try, is print it out and hang it on your fridge, now you see it in Black and White everyday which will empower you even more to success. Keep on pushing yourself, it feels good to have those accomplishments when you have completed that extra ump... Remember the difference between Try and and Triumph is the Umph at the end.. Patty Report Inappropriate Comment

October 12, 2008

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I'm blogging today's update earlier than usual in an attempt to balance out the crazy cardio schedule I've been keeping this weekend. As a matter of fact, as soon as I click "Post", I'm going to change out of my workout clothes and grab a shower. This is to keep me from doing more cardio than I actually need today. I woke up with numb knees - such a crazy sensation that I've learned to recognize as a sign of the need to back off a bit. So, I warmed up and then took care of my scheduled step aerobics workout for the day. Now the rest of the day is about taking it easy and enjoying the down time. I'll be back tomorrow with another check-in

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WILD4STARS 10/13/2008 6:57AM

My knees talk to me sometimes too, and yes they are usually telling me to take a break. Great way to listen to your body and give it the rest it needs. Report Inappropriate Comment

HEAVENLYCHILD83 10/12/2008 10:49AM

Yeah, it sounds like you need a day of rest. Relax and enjoy your day today. Report Inappropriate Comment

October 11, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008

One thing I know how to do is bounce back from damned near anything. Today's fitness routine is proof of that. After yesterday's sugar binge, I knew I'd need something extra today to balance myself and get back on track. I slept in this morning because I needed that Saturday ritual of rest and stretch after a long, restorative night's sleep. It took me a while longer than usual to get everything stirring, but I finally made it to my Shred workout, and it was a good one!!! Because it was so late in the morning, I took a breakfast break before getting my cardio on. I then opted for pre-lunch cardio about 2 hours later and rocked a KILLER 50 min low impact workout video that I haven't done in months. Lunch was, of course, ultra healthy...that's probably where I got the mega vibe to do even more cardio later this afternoon. I finished my Ultra Fit Saturday with an additional 40 minutes of mixed impact, high intensity cardio that took me over the top. As I finish up these musings, I must admit that I now know the secret to having a day like this...don't change out of your workout clothes until you have to leave the house. Talk about MOTIVATING!!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WILD4STARS 10/11/2008 5:48PM

Great come back! You're not going to let a little sugar get you down!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Confessions of a Recovering Sugar Addict

Saturday, October 11, 2008

I ate a bag of cookies last night. Yes, you read right, I said A BAG of cookies - not a handful, not a dozen...a bag. If I'm totally honest, I can say that is my first full-out binge in nearly 4 months, and it was NOT related to emotional eating. That binge was all about the sugar!!!

I've been eating a clean, vegan diet consistently since June 23 with very few deviations from said eating plan. I feel strong and healthy from the inside out. I power through amazing workouts because of the energy levels that such wonderfully whole and completely unprocessed foods give my body on a daily basis. HOWEVER, I can also tell you that I am the product of a sugar loving family both maternally and paternally speaking. I know that I have to be very cautious when it comes to sugar consumption or it will derail my health train in a heartbeat. So as a general rule, sugar is something that I cannot do in moderation - it's all or nothing baby.

My current binge was brought about after 3 weeks of increasingly annoying cravings for something a tad bit sweet. Because of my commitment to vegan eating, it's harder to find something that has no animal products with any convenience to its acquisition. I mean, I can go to the vegan bakery, I make every effort NOT to do that since everything there is AWESOME and after all, it's still about the sugar. I finally found a 10 oz bag of gingersnaps in the health food section of my local grocery store, and I made the mistake of not only buying them, I brought them into the house and opened them.

I'd like to say that's the end of the story, but about halfway through the bag, my sister showed up with a birthday cake for my mom, and I chose to have a small slice of that as well. Before you ask, NOPE, it wasn't vegan, NOPE, it wasn't even vegetarian...but it tasted good, and after I finished my slice, I walked away because the taste was just okay. I'd also like to tell you that after the cake, I didn't go back to the cookie bag, but I don't lie to myself, and I don't lie in my blogs. So by the time I got to the very last cookie in the bag, I realize it tasted like molasses dipped crap, and I immediately went to brush my teeth. Oh Hell, why couldn't that have happened 3 hours earlier???

I'm not blogging this misadventure to excuse my behavior or in search of any sort of absolution. I'm capturing this episode as a reminder that for me, sugar isn't an option, unless I can very carefully regulate how much I am consuming. That is my reality. I could very easily have thrown the bag away and never told a soul what I did - that's what has set me up for the guilt complex that begins the next round of binging and purging or even yo-yo dieting in my past. Being honest and above board with myself reminds me that I am a Human Being, doing the best I can on any given day. I am choosing each day to recommit to my healthy eating and fitness plan to give myself everything I need to continue on the path to total health and wellness. Loving myself through the dietary indiscretions is a big part of navigating that path. I can, and I do, because I am so very well worth the effort and I do deserve the rewards!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WILD4STARS 10/11/2008 5:10PM

Oh, you SO crack me up. I'm not a sugar addict (thankfully) - but I never met a pasta I couldn't eat, and eat, and eat. I could eat my way out of a large room FULL of angel hair pasta. So I know what you mean, I can't have just one serving, I have to eat the WHOLE pot. And I CRAVE pasta, but once I give in, my eating is out of control on ALL levels. I SO relate, and I love the humor in your telling of it. Thanks for a great Blog. Report Inappropriate Comment

COOP9002 10/11/2008 12:59PM

All of us struggle with certain foods. More of us than you know can relate to your addiction to sugar. Thanks for sharing your story. Report Inappropriate Comment