Days 20-26 Lots of Walking, except for Saturday when we went to the gym

I know, I know I didn't blog for a week.  I also kept most of my workouts to walking on the walking trail.  The reason for this is simple.  Daylight savings time.  I don't get home until about seven every day.  When the time changed, it meant I could take advantage of our walking trail every day!  I really really love that.  The best part is, I can take Lloyd with me when I walk.
I should do more, but it is something every day.  I live in this wonderful community and I feel that I should take advantage of that particular perk.  We also have a workout room, but it stinks.  That's why I have a gym membership.
The gym at our old apartment was halfway decent, the one at my friends old apartment in Houston was  good.  Nothing compares to paying for it.  I'm currently paying twelve bucks a month and it's still better than anything I've seen that you get for free in the place where you live.  

Day 20 Wii Boxing

Have I mentioned that I love my Wii?  Now, I won't say I will have Angelina Jolie's body with workouts from my Wii, but it is a quick way to get your heart rate up when you don't feel like leaving your house after a long day of work.  
Hardcore workout once again.  It's really not hardcore at all.  This is an easy workout to do when I feel like taking it easy.
To all friends I have making a lenten sacrifice we have a reason to celebrate.  We're halfway through!  Twenty more days!

Day 19 Walking Trail

Today, Lloyd and I did a short walk on the walking trail.  The trail itself is on the other side of our community, so it is already a pretty long walk to get there.
I was still pretty fatigued today, so I decided not to overdo it.  That seems to be a pattern on Sundays, but we'll see if it comes up again.  

Day 18 30 minutes on Elliptical at Planet Fitness

On Saturday, I did thirty minutes on the elliptical at Planet Fitness.  Pretty boring, but cardio is necessary. An elliptical trainer is pretty much the same everywhere.  I like Planet Fitness because there are people there of all shapes and sizes.
In the middle ages, being fat was considered a status symbol.  Now, it seems as though it is the opposite.   It's expensive to be healthy.  Fast food joints out number grocery stores, and in some cases are cheaper.  Gym memberships are expensive, and not everyone can afford one.  I have to say that Planet Fitness has found a way to close that gap, they have made it affordable to workout.  It is wonderful to see.  

Day 17 Two Games on the Wii

I was baby sitting last night and the kids were playing on their Wii.  I mentioned that I had one at my house and the kids asked me why I had one if I didn't have any kids.  The answer is simple; the exercise games.  I liked the Wii because there were quite a few games that you play with your whole body, not just your hands.
On Friday night, I did the Golds Gym Carido Workout.  Once again I did chose the hardcore workout, which is not that hardcore.  I also did a little extra.  The game gives a punch stamp on a calendar.  If you do just a little, it's blank, a little more, it says "good".  I like to make sure that it says "great".  That usually takes over a thousand punches.
After the boxing.  I talked Lloyd into playing Just Dance with me.  We did five songs.  When I play this game, I don't pay attention to the score.  The point of the game is moving, not getting it perfect.  Even if you do the moves perfectly, the remote will probably not pick up the moves perfectly.  Lloyd and I had a blast dancing to the music.  We did five songs together, then we stopped.

Day 16 6lb Soft Ball Workout DVD

Ok, it's been a while since my last post.  That does not not mean that I'm not working out.  It just means that I haven't been blogging about it.  I know, half of the equation gone, but I had to write a few posts before I forgot what I did.
On this particular day, Thursday, I did the workout DVD that came with my 6 pound soft weighted ball.  After finishing this workout, I wish I would have gotten the 4 pound ball.  Five minutes into the twenty minute workout my arms were killing me.  They hurt even more the next morning.

Day 15 Walk through a Parking Garage

Kind of an accidental workout, but I'm counting it.  I had a doctor's appointment in the medical center today.  I got to the parking garage and parked.  I went to see the doctor, I got held down by someone wanting to take my blood, then I walked back into the parking garage.  Then I couldn't find my car.  I walked all the way up to the top, ramp by ramp, next to cars looking for mine.  Then I walked all the way down the five stories thinking I missed it.  Forty five minutes later, I found my car, parked thirty feet from the exit.
The moral of the story is, sometimes you have to seek the workout; other times the workout seeks you.

Day 14 walk with co -workers

Tonight after work I joined a couple of co workers in a walk along one of the streets that runs parallel to our building. We walked around forty minutes mostly either uphill or downhill.

Days 12 and 13

Ok, fifty lashes with a wet noodle for me.  I said I would post a new blog every day, and I forgot to last night.  I have to admit that I was extremely fatigued.
I had to show Lloyd the new bridge on our walking trail.  So I took a walk with him to see it.  It was only the third time he had even been out that far on the walking trail, we usually just go around one bend and come back.  The walking trail itself is a bit of a walk from our house, so there is that extra length.
Today I not only almost forgot to blog, I almost forgot to work out.  It was my late night again, so I did another fifteen minute workout, this time almost as an afterthought, in my PJ's while watching the last fifteen minutes of the Princess Bride.
As You Wish.  

Day 11 45 min on the Elliptical and a Walk in the Woods

I was in the mood for some serious cardio today.  Weekends are always way less crowded at the gym.  I did three miles in forty five minutes.  Then I came home reseted a big and decided it was such a beautiful day I would utilize something in our neighborhood, the walking trail.  It really is very beautiful.  I walked another three miles, in toning shoes.  Isn't this view better than anything you can see on a treadmill?  

Day 10 Neighborhood Walk, Fifteen Minute Workout.

I was really tired today.  I even went to knit club after work to try and unwind.  My brain was genuinely worn out.
I decided not to overdo it today.  Lloyd and I took a walk around the park here in our neighborhood, but I was wearing my Sketchers Tone-up shoes.  I also did a fifteen minute workout from my book while watching the Bio Channel special on Davy Jones.  I have to admit I did feel a bit better after the walk.  I'm not sure if it was the air or getting the blood flowing, but it did make me feel a bit better.  

Day 9, 45 Minute Zumba DVD

I know I said I was going to get back to the gym today, but I didn't.  A couple of coworkers stayed behind to do yoga; I didn't stay with them.  A couple of other coworkers went walking in the neighborhood around work; I didn't go with them either.  

I did what millions of people every day do, I made excuses.  I planned on going to the gym, as I was driving, my cell phone died.  Then I realized that I didn't have my headphones, which is a must for cardio.    I also realized that while I had a change of clothes, I did not bring a pad lock for the lockers.  I could have done without either of those things, but it is harder.  

So I came home and made dinner thinking I could also change into workout duds and either go back to the gym or go to Studio Zero for an eight dollar Zumba class.  

Instead, I decided to stay home and do a 45 minute Zumba DVD.   

I bought this set of Zumba DVD's from an infomercial.  I know, cheesy.  But it was actually pretty worth it.  I do like taking classes, but the DVD's have their benefits.  For one thing, I don't have to drive anywhere.  Another bonus is that I'm alone in the comfort of my own living room with no other people around.  The downside is that my living room is carpeted which makes dancing on it a little strange.  I will take a class sometime during this process, but with my work schedule, I'm not sure when.  

This is a little of the reason that I started this blog.  I wanted to show other people that they could come home dog tired from a physically demanding job, and still find time for a workout.  

Well this dog tired girl is going to steep.  Good night everyone!

Day 8, same as Monday

Rushing to get this in before midnight, I didn't get home from baby sitting until ten.  I was also up late last night finishing a baby hat for someone that I had to finnish today.
I did the fifteen minute routine again.  This time, more of the moves were back to back than last time, which is what the book recommends.
Gym again tomorrow!

Day 7 Elliptical Trainer at Planet Fitness

First I want to post a follow up to yesterday's workout. My legs are feeling the squats from yesterday. It was more of a workout then I thought! That's good, because it will probably be my workout again tomorrow!
Today I was wondering what I was going to do and I realized I haven't done pure cardio since I started this process. So on my way home I stopped at Planet Fitness and hopped on an Elliptical Trainer for 35 minutes. Here's the screen.

Day 6, Super Fast Total Body Workout Plus extras.

Today was one of my long days at work.  I stayed until about seven thirty getting home at about ten after eight.  I decided to crack open the Women's Health Magazines Big Book of 15 Minute Workouts.  I did the first workout in the book which is supposed to be a full body workout.
The workout consists of four moves.
1. Squats.  I did these with a set of ten pound dumbbells.  Two sets of fifteen.
2. Chest press.  Instead of a bench, I did these on an exercize ball.  I've heard from almost every credible source that in most cases a ball is better since your core is working to stabalize your body on the ball.  Again, I used five pound dumbbells. Two sets of fifteen.
3.  Bent Over Row.  Five pound dumbbells, two sets of fifteen.
4. Bicycle crunches.  Fifteen to each side.
I did two sets of each of the first three excersizes, and I didn't time it, but I'm pretty sure it took me slightly longer than fifteen minutes.  It also didn't feel like much of a workout.  Maybe I need heavier weights.  I have some eight pounders around here somewhere.
I added a few moves to the workout.
1. Bicep curls.  Two sets of fifteen.
2. Crunches on the excersize ball.  Two sets of fifteen.
3.  Tricep extensions.  Two sets of fifteen with an eight pound medicine ball.

I promise tomorrow I will actually make it to the gym!

Day 5 Zumba Rush DVD

For some reason, every time I do a workout at home I feel like I'm cheating.  But one of my rules was that it could be any form of workout.  Tomorrow's workout will probably be from home as well.
Today I did the Zumba Rush 20 min. DVD.  The reason I decided on a home workout today: it was a very busy day.
Lloyd and I went to Lowe's this morning to buy some stuff for the garden.  I planted a few seedlings, and some plants I bought at the home show yesterday.  I then pulled up some weeds, and planted some seeds in some new seed pods.  We also finally went out for my birthday tonight, and when we came home, we watched the Oscars.  I probably could have found time for a more intense workout today, but I am due for a relaxing day too.
Zumba Rush is still quite a good workout to do when you are tight on time.  It actually loosened up some of the soreness I had in my back for a long time.  

Day 4 30 min Express plus a little cardio

It's Day 4 Saturday!  I'm baby sitting tonight, but I wanted to blog for the day too.  I woke up extra early today.  We're officially caught up on sleep now.  We joined Planet Fitness when they opened the location on Portranco because it was very close to us and we could go together on the weekends.  We've both skipped the last couple of weekends.  Today we went to breakfast at IHOP, went to the bank to get some parking money, then went to the gym.  Now Lloyd's normal weekend workout is to park himself on a treadmill for an hour and go, which is great, but it's not what I like to do.  I noticed the express zone was empty, so I went for that again.  This time I upped the weights I put on almost every machine.  I noticed the zone puts a lot of emphasis on upper body work, or at least it seems that way to me.
Ten years ago, when I first joined a gym in Houston, my grandma had just broken a hip.  She was in her eighties.  They told my mom that they were trying to build up her upper body strength.  How much upper body strength can you build in an eighty five year old?  I then looked down at my own arms and decided I should get started early.
I recall some months later looking in a mirror at the gym while doing bicep curls and saying "Wow, are those mine?"  I had definition that I couldn't believe.
I don't think it's so great now, but I definitely am stronger than I was then.  I think upping the weights on the machines was a good choice, but we'll see how it works out.  

Day 3 Wii Boxing

Today I woke up sore.  I also did something absolutely nuts.  I drove to work leaving all of my cash as well as my debit card at home.  I also didn't pack any form of a lunch this morning.  

As I was leaving work, I felt, above all else HUNGRY!!!  It was around six twenty and I still had a forty minute commute.  

My wonderful wonderful husband did something great.  He made dinner and it was ready by the time I walked in the door.  

I didn't go to the gym at all today.  Like most people, I just want to get home on Friday.  And also like most women out there, I have a variety of fitness options available to me right here in my house.  

I decided to plug in a video game that I recently found in a different case.  The game is called Gold's Gym Cardio Workout and it almost completely consists of boxing.  

So I put a Wii remote in each hand and pressed the buttons to start the workout.  I looked at the date last played.  Two days before Christmas of 2010.  Nice.  

The animated personal trainer asked me what kind of workout I wanted to do today.  I selected "hardcore".  I had to take three lessons to get a punch stamp on my electronic calendar screen.  These three lessons were fairly simple and took me around twenty minutes.  

I did about another fifteen minutes of lessons on my own.  This took my punch count for the day from around 800 to around 1600.  I recommend this game highly as a stress buster.  I love that I can pound an electronic heavy bag and take out all of my frustrations.  It is absolutely great!

Day 2, Yoga!

Today is my Birthday!  

I got asked a question a lot today at work.  "Are you going out tonight?"  The answer is no.  I went and did the 6:30 yoga class at the JCC.  I am very committed to this journey.  

I haven't done any form of yoga in years.  I do the occasional pose or two with the kids in class, and I've done a couple of teacher training yoga workshops, but nothing grown up since I was in college.  I thought that I could use the stretch after the weights yesterday.  I do, however have a pretty cool yoga mat and an even cooler bag that I made in which to carry it.  

The class itself was wonderful, but I realized how badly I was out of practice.  My balance is terrible!  I'm pretty flexible, but not as much as I needed to be for this particular class.  I was pretty unstable.  I'm sure if I practice, I'll get better.  

The thing about yoga is that instead of feeling energized, I felt relaxed after the class.  Considering the fact that I still had to drive forty minutes to get home and then cook dinner, I"m not sure if that's a good thing. Maybe long term it will be.  I do need to relax more.  Maybe high and low energy days?  I don't know, but I'm open to suggestions.  Post comments please.  

I don't know what tomorrow's workout will be, something high energy I'm sure. 

First workout Posted

Ok everyone, posted here is my before pic.
Today's workout took place after work and it was the Express 30 workout at Planet Fitness.
I really do like Planet Fitness, and I was very very happy when they opened the one close to my house. Here's a pic of the logo, and it really is true, you don't feel judged in the place.  I really feel at home every time I go there.   Membership is also only twelve bucks a month, which doesn't hurt!

I have to admit, I was kind of nervous taking pictures in there with my iphone.  I did not take a picture of any people, just signs.  I don't know if it's totally OK to publish the logo, but I'm doing it.  

I did the PF Express workout, which is 30 minutes of a machines and these little step things with handles.  I just step up and down on them, but some of the other members get fancy.  I saw a guy doing push ups on them!  I like it because it gives people who don't know exactly what to do in a gym a way of knowing what to do.  It's like having a workout program given to you!  The fact that it only takes half an hour is a bonus for me.  I took a pic of the rules poster, here it is.  

Oh and something I forgot this morning.  Here's the before picture.    I had Lloyd take it when I got home from the gym.  Hopefully, I will look amazing in the after shot on Easter Sunday!

Today is the Day!!!

It's Ash Wednesday!  OK as promised, here are the numbers:
Weight, 150.5 lbs.
Body Fat, 39%
Now, I'm not promising this is completely accurate.  I did this on my body fat scale, which is a few years old.  We'll see how this works out.
I still don't know what workout I'm going to do yet, but I can tell you what I probably won't do.  This might sound absolutely terrible, but I don't plan on going to get ashes.  I can't go early morning because I work at a Jewish Community Center, and while I don't think it's ever been forbidden, I don't think walking around with a giant spot on my forehead all day would be very respectful toward that.  Not to mention the kids would be pointing and laughing way more than I am comfortable with.  I went after work last year at the church close to there, which I may do again this year, but it is way too crowded and once I find parking and walk into the church, I'd be lucky to get ashes.  It just seems like more of a headache than it's worth.  I would rather just get started on my sacrifice.
Speaking of ashes, I'm reminded of an interesting story.  My dad and I used to go to church together at my church on Ash Wednesday every year that I lived in my apartment.  The last year I lived there, he was running for office (he's a judge), and that night was the endorsement meeting for a political group; going home between these two events would have been a waste of both time and gasoline, so he went with the giant mark on his forehead.  He gets up to make his speech, says some thing along the lines of "I am here tonight..." and someone from the crowd, probably a family friend yells, "On Ash Wednesday!"  And Dad continued with his speech.  Yes, he went to church in a time and a place that still allowed him to go to this meeting.  While I am positive he was not the only candidate that went to services that day (at least one more told me that he had showered between the two events), he was the only candidate that was marked.  I don't think going to the meeting with ashes on his forehead affected him getting the endorsement at all, he did get it, and he also won the election.  
Up for suggestions on a workout to do today.  I will see what is available.  

Fat Tuesday

In my case, quite literally Fat Tuesday.  Lloyd (my husband) and I had a late night dinner at Red Robin.  He's giving up french fries and soda, so he had a farewell to those things, and I did not work out for anything today.  What am I going to do tomorrow?  I'm not sure yet, but before midnight tomorrow I am going to post my current weight and body fat percentage.  Taking suggestions for a workout to do tomorrow. 

Trying one from my phone

I'm trying a post from my IPhone just to see if it works. I'm reminded that my job is more physical than most. I don't sit behind a desk all day. The question arises: don't I get enough physical activity throughout my day?
The short answer is, I need more. -

Rules Rules Rules

Really the rules for this are more guidelines, because they are subject to change.
A workout must be done every day.  What qualifies as a workout?  Any thing that requires extra activity.  Some days this might include a walk around the neighborhood.  What I am going to do is try different things throughout the city that are available to everyone.  I will try some stuff out and provide a review for it on this blog.  I am open to suggestions as to what to try.  Daily blog posts will begin on Ash Wednesday (February 22), at which time I will post my current weight and body fat percentage (I said in the last post I would sacrifice dignity!)
I do have a few things available to me that I do plan on utilizing.  The first is a membership at the Planet Fitness close to my house.  Planet Fitness is an economical gym that charges around twelve dollars per month for their memberships, but does not offer group exercise classes or childcare.  I don't have children currently, so the lack of child care is not an issue for me.
As I mentioned before, I also have a membership at my place of employment, the Jewish Community Center here in San Antonio.  The JCC does offer group exercise classes and has a wonderful drop off facility where members can leave their children while working out.  I've only tried a couple of the classes in the three years I've worked there, but during this experience I will try more, as my work schedule permits.
Do I plan on dieting?  Nope.  I want to tackle one thing at a time.  Diet may start after Easter.  However, my non-catholic husband does plan giving up french fries and soda, so by extension, my intake of those things will be more limited.  Diet is important, and I will try eating a little better than I currently do.
On days when I am pressed for time, I have The Women's Health Big Book of 15 Minute Workouts by Selene Yeager.   We'll see how that works out as well.
Wish me luck on my journey!  Anyone who wants to workout with me some time let me know!  And tell your friends about this blog too!  

Lent 101

Ok, I realize most of you know what Lent is but some of you might not.  I realize I need to put in a Lent 101 post.
Now, Lent is officially, the forty days before Easter and it starts on Ash Wednesday.  It's supposed to symbolize the forty days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert.  Lent is supposed to be a month free of major celebrations; weddings are strongly discouraged.  (Didn't stop my parents, or a couple of other people I know who had a Catholic wedding during Lent).  It's supposed to be a time for prayer and reflection.  And the big thing is that you're supposed to give up stuff.
Ever hear of Mardi Gras?  Its the last big celebration before Lent starts. Churches even used to do a Midnight Mass after the parties on Mardi Gras where people still wore costumes to church.  Given some of the costumes I've seen on TV that people wear (or don't wear) in New Orleans, thank goodness this tradition is on the decline.
Now, why do we give up stuff?  It's a sacrifice.  This is why we don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent.  You're sacrificing to sympathize with those less fortunate who might not have meat.  A question I get a lot is "If you're supposed to give something up, why are you adding a workout."  The answer is simple.  I'm still sacrificing!  I'm sacrificing my time, my routine, and a little dignity.  But is this to glorify God, or myself?
If it didn't benefit me in some way, I probably wouldn't be doing it.  Most catholics when they give up soda or fast food are doing it in some form because they need to lose weight or because it is a vice they need to overcome.   Well, not working out is a vice I need to overcome.  Better health would in many ways make me a better person.
My intention with this blog was never to be overly religious, and this is probably going to be the most Catholic post in this entire journey.  I believe that my body is a gift to me from God and I believe that there is no better glory to Him than to take care of all of my body and all the other gifts that He has given me.
Please feel free to comment with what Lent means to you.  Again, this is probably going to be my most religious post in this blog.  

One month from now...

I'm getting started with this blog a little early.  My name is Rebecca.  This year for lent, I'm going to do forty workouts in forty days.

I attempted this last year too, but I fell off the wagon.  This year, I'm going to complete the task, and I'm starting this blog to keep myself accountable.  

Like many American Women, I have bought into the hype.  I have several DVD's, some of which I admit were purchased from infomercials.  I also have two gym memberships.  One of them I am paying for, the other is at my place of employment.  I have a full time job with a forty minute commute.  Like a lot of you out there, I am short on time.  I would like this blog to show that you can fit exercise into a busy schedule like mine.  

During the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, I will exercise in at least some form each day.  Before concern is expressed, I do not plan on over doing it.  Some days it might include a walk around my neighborhood.  

Rules will follow, I do plan on having some, I just haven't figured out what they're going to be yet!  Wish me luck!