This Done Girl Knows Pilates!

Monday, January 30, 2012

My daughter just dug an old DVD player out of the garage and found a DVD in it. It was an old Denise Austin Pilates DVD. WHAT?! I used to love watching her early morning half hour workouts on TV. She was always so tanned and she did her show on the beach. But I don't remember buying her pilates DVD. I did buy a pilates DVD set some years ago. But it was Mari Winsor. And what I found with that workout was that I absolutely hated it! It was too hard on my neck.

I tried the Shrink Your Fat Zones Pilates DVD last night. There are three 15 minute workouts (core, upper, lower). I did the core and upper last night. I liked it! When the exercise required your head to be held up, you use a towel for support. I'm so glad I found something new to work into my program.

If you're looking for a new DVD to check out, I recommend this one!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LESLISNEWLIFE 2/1/2012 12:44PM

Cool beans! Thanks for sharing that with us friend! I have never done pilates, but just may incorporate that at some point! Always looking for something new and different to keep myself interested! Report Inappropriate Comment

GEMINIAN1 1/30/2012 9:04PM

WHAT?!?!?! Well that is a cool story. It was meant to be. Report Inappropriate Comment

KITTENPYE 1/30/2012 7:03PM

Woo hoo - a present from the Workout Fairy! Congrats on finding a fun addition to your workout, and thanks for sharing the recommendation with us! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHRINKINGLULU 1/30/2012 4:51PM

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SUSIEGKORN 1/30/2012 2:47PM

What a fun mystery DVD to find! Glad she recommended the towel for support. Great idea! Have fun with it! I'm on my way out the door for a walk. It's a sunny, 60 degree day here! Unseasonable but very welcome! Then I'm heading to the gym for strength training. It's been way too long.......Have a great week, Brenda! Report Inappropriate Comment

Motivate Week 11

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The main challenge this week is to complete 30 pushups, 30 squats, and 30 jumping jacks at least 5 times this week. The bonus challenge is to complete a 5k (3.1 miles) at least twice this week.

I'm streaking in the wrong direction! Week 10 was another low fitness minute week. No excuse, really. I had an ugly headache on Tuesday, so I slept through Zumba. I think my new assignment at work may have something to do with it. It's added a bit of stress. I need to remember that exercise is a stress reliever, so I need it even more these days.

Nutrition in Week 10 was fair...I think. I didn't track every day. I typically start my day by planning my meals. During the week, I'm really good about sticking to my breakfast and lunch plan. But my dinner plan is typically different than what the rest of the family has. I need to correct that. My family should be eating healthy food with me. Instead, what happens is I cave in and we all have the old standby frozen stuff. Moreover, I still struggle with portion control at dinner. I'm going to try to put leftovers away before I eat to see if that helps. I also am making a concerted effort to start phasing out the frozen meals with fresh food. I know it'll be a challenge. But it means a lot to me, so I need to make it happen. I have the tools. I just need to take the time and plan ahead.

Here's my workout plan for Week 11. It looks a little different than previous weeks because I want to get those two 5ks in. That bonus challenge is a good one for me to start preparing for the 5K in May. I plan on running instead of walking this year.

S – 60 cardio (5k); 3 x 30 challenge
M – Upper Body, 30 cardio; 3 x 30 challenge
T - 60 cardio. I Zumba!
W - Lower Body; 30 cardio; 3 x 30 challenge
Th - 60 cardio; I Zumba!
F – Core, 30 cardio, 3 x 30 challenge
Sa - 60 cardio (5k); 3 x 30 challenge

Fitness Minutes
Week 11: 305
Week 10: 90
Week 9: 125
Week 8: 120
Week 7: 465
Week 6: 380
Week 5: 130
Week 4: 355
Week 3: 350
Week 2: 190
Week 1: 331

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ALLYTHEATHLETE 1/29/2012 3:08PM

Looks like a solid plan! Feeding the family can be challenging - particularly if you have picky eaters! It's so easy to unintentionally become a short-order cook - making something different for everyone. Stand firm! Health is a family affair! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEGKORN 1/29/2012 11:56AM

You are so right when you said "take time and plan ahead". That is so key! And, of course, and sticking to the plan! LOL Here's to a good week! Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLISNEWLIFE 1/29/2012 11:28AM

your goals and plans sound great Brenda! Yeah! It's all a learning process and readjustment all the time isn't it? Working to readjust and not just give up is a key to success I think! Sounds like you are doing "great"! And you seem to be accepting things well when you don't reach the goal the week before, and not letting it get you down, which is great! My goal is to run a 3k soon too, have one in April, and I plan to run it! Report Inappropriate Comment

Meeting With Health Coach

Friday, January 27, 2012

The last time I met with my health coach was on December 9. My weight fluctuated A LOT since then. I wasn't looking forward to speaking with him because I thought I had gained significantly since we last spoke. As it turns out, I am down a pound since our last call. How nice for him not to ride the roller coaster of ups and downs that I had to endure! He was very encouraging about the one pound loss, even though I explained I was down seven pounds at some points! That didn't matter to him. He congratulated me on getting back on track after struggling through the holidays.

This is funny, I just skimmed previous blogs and found an October entry that said the same thing about the roller coaster in between visits. Speaking to someone that wasn't there for all the ups and downs puts it into perspective.

It was a good phone call. I reset my goals and got some tips on some things I can tinker with, so we'll see how the next four weeks go!

My next visit is on February 24, the day after my birthday and the day before my 1 year Sparkversary.

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a healthful weekend!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GETFIT2LIVE 1/27/2012 2:19PM

Good to get some suggestions and affirmations from the health coach! Our weight does go up and down (a LOT sometimes), but if the overall trend over time is down, that's the main thing. Hang in there; you will make it! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLYTHEATHLETE 1/27/2012 1:56PM

Good news! Always nice to get the affirmation that you're doing the right things. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHRINKINGLULU 1/27/2012 12:46PM

Happy Friday! I'm sure with the suggestions from your health coach your February visit will go great! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHEENADEE 1/27/2012 11:55AM

TGIF!! It sounds like a good thing you have set up with the health coach. Report Inappropriate Comment

GEMINIAN1 1/27/2012 11:00AM

Happy Friday to you too my friend ... :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

Motivate Week 10

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The main challenge this week is to earn a point for each mile of exercise. The bonus is to read this article and incorporate missing elements into our workouts: www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?p ost=how_to_design_your_ideal_workout_plan

Week 9 was another low fitness minute week. The power was out for almost 2 days and my Zumba classes were canceled. I did, however, get some yardwork in yesterday. I wouldn't have expected that in the middle of winter, but the debris from all the broken trees left quite a mess and had to get cleaned up!

Nutrition in Week 9 was fair. When the lights were out, I migrated to the higher calorie junk food instead of the fruits and vegetables.

Here's my workout plan for Week 10:

S – 30 cardio. Shopped early and took girls out to lunch for vegetarian Indian in Issaquah.
M – Upper Body, 30 cardio. Long day at work..no energy.
T - 60 cardio. I Zumba!
W - 30 cardio
Th - 60 cardio; I Zumba!
F – core, 30 cardio
Sa - 30 cardio

Fitness Minutes
Week 10: 90
Week 9: 125
Week 8: 120
Week 7: 465
Week 6: 380
Week 5: 130
Week 4: 355
Week 3: 350
Week 2: 190
Week 1: 331

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

AFRESHSTART2 1/24/2012 9:57AM

Brenda, I love the way you set your weekly goals. I need to take a page out of your book and blog my weekly goals. Report Inappropriate Comment

JUNESHOPE 1/23/2012 10:21PM

Congrats on your progress. I am VERY impressed. You are doing so well. I am back now, and look forward to some success myself. Hubby & I are going to do weight watchers together with a little friendly competition. It should be fun. Start date is this Saturday 1/28. Hope to catch up soon...maybe over coffee sometime? Report Inappropriate Comment

FDDNMD 1/23/2012 2:05PM

YOU ARE DOING GREAT!! KEEP UP THE GOOS WORK. Just for an idea, at night snacks tend to be a big problem for me too. I started baking a cut open banana at 400 deg for 8 to 10 minutes and sprinkled a little truvia over it and let me tell you it tastes just like pudding. And if I am having a salt craving I bought these dried peas with sea salt (you can get tham at trader joes, whole foods etc) and a handful does the job. Just some ideas for you girly. Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLISNEWLIFE 1/22/2012 4:37PM

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GEMINIAN1 1/22/2012 12:27PM

Comment edited on: 1/22/2012 12:27:53 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLYTHEATHLETE 1/22/2012 11:00AM

I love how thoughtfully your weeks are planned out. Planning is so important to success! Report Inappropriate Comment

Consistency Need Not Be Continuous

Sunday, January 22, 2012

I wanted to explore reasons people fail to meet their goals. Setting them too high can be demoralizing, as my friend Susie can attest to recently. The same thing happens to me all the time. Shooting for a 2 pound/week loss instead of something more reasonable usually winds up bumming me out. So, I'm trying to focus more on the things I do that will result in weight loss and focus less on the weight itself. The weight loss is not the goal. It's the happy bi-product of a healthy lifestyle. I hope finally writing it down will help me get over my scale obsession!

The other breakthrough thought I had is that consistency does not need to be continuous. Do I quit the 100 Day Challenge because I didn't get all 5 freggies in a day? No. The key in consistency is to keep running up that hill. I will reset as often as I need to, trusting that my little mini goals to lose weight are good for me and they do work. It would've been cool to declare a perfect 100 day streak, but I don't live in a world of absolutes, so I shouldn't anchor myself down to one.

If you've set yourself some realistic goals and yesterday or last week didn't go so well, that's okay. Today's a new day. You made the right choice in making a plan. Now you can make another good choice by working it. Commit to Consistency.



Props to my Irish Sparkpeeps for the Sparkisms I shamelessly stole!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUSIEGKORN 1/23/2012 10:43AM

"The weight loss is not the goal. It's the happy bi-product of a healthy lifestyle." LOVE THIS! I'm going to steal it and use it on my status and / or in my blog some day! Thank you! This blog is speaking to me. I feel so much better since I reset my goals to something more realistic. I'm not a person who can lose a lot of weight in a week, at least I haven't learned how to do that if I am! So the goal of losing 1-2 pounds per week on average, helps me stay on track and takes into account the weeks I lose nothing! "The other breakthrough thought I had is that consistency does not need to be continuous." This was my hang=up with the 100 day challenge. I really wanted to do that but when I felt like I couldn't for a day, it got me down. So glad I figured it out and am back on track. I was able to do that because of you and my other supporters. It's all in the positive thinking. Let's continue our commitment to consistency! Report Inappropriate Comment

KIM--POSSIBLE 1/22/2012 4:51PM

I am inspired by your thought process! Focusing on what you are doing to improve your health rather than on the number on the scale is difficult but necessary! If you are making healthy choices most of the time, the number on the scale is really just a number! Being consistent does not mean being perfect! And I love the analogy of running up the hill! Made me think of my girls' soccer team and some of the drills they have to do. Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLISNEWLIFE 1/22/2012 4:46PM

Oh my goodness friend! I was afraid to say it...but you figured it out for yourself, way to go! I was reading your other blog and thinking that you require a lot of yourself with your activity goals etc. The trainers say that you should be able to accomplish health with just 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week.. I thought I should bump up my minutes today running, then I realized you are supposed to increase the intensity, and keep the time the same, so that's what I did. We just need to be reasonable, and I want somewhere to work up to also. I hope that you start to realize all your accomplishments big or small. I recently suggested to a friend to journal each and every little thing they notice, each new dimple in a fat roll, which means muscles are toning etc. That will help when you get down, and forget...same with looking back to where you started, and how far you've come. You can reach your weekly goals, as long as they are reasonable for your busy active life. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROCKYCPA 1/22/2012 2:18PM

Good for you - great goals! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLYTHEATHLETE 1/22/2012 10:56AM

Good attitude! For me, it's all about the mindset. I know I'm on the verge of a minor relapse when "What the hell" thinking starts to creep in. Should I crack into those Oreos? What the hell. Should I sleep in and skip my workout today? What the hell, etc. Once the "What the hell"s start, it's tough to get back on track! Luckily, I've kept them at bay for quite awhile now. Report Inappropriate Comment

LANNIEMANUEL 1/22/2012 10:11AM

good for you. also allow for set back and not to beat yourself up for them. I also find it helpful to allow for cheat periods. that way you dont feel completely deprived or worn out. Report Inappropriate Comment