Burning Up

Last week I was enjoying the treadmill so much, I went for an extra day just because.  What’s up with THAT?!  I’ll take it.

I’m sure it had something to do with wanting to play with my new toy.  I finally bit the [midnight internet shopping] bullet and bought myself a Polar Heart Rate Monitor.  Call it a belated Christmas prezzie to myself!

How could I resist a pink cutie like this?  I mean, come on! 

It’s so nice to finally have an accurate calorie count for my workouts…makes it so much easier to log and meal plan.  I also really enjoy watching my heart rate and planning my cardio days for low vs high intensity.  Totally worthwhile gadget!

So here we are a full month into my new gym membership and workout routine.  Yesterday was the very first day where a planned workout was foiled and I actually got grumpy about it.  My gym time is precious and I don’t like it being taken away!  I did everything in my power to get my make-up session today.  500 calories, take that!

Oddly, I think I look thinner on Day One.  I blame my stance. :)

Happy thoughts for this week:

• There’s always another time for a missed workout.
• I lost another pound.
• Hummus was on sale.
• I burn more calories than the gym equipment told me.
• Our vacation is just 16 days away.

Hitting My Stride

Here we are--now more than a full week into the New Year and it appears the resolution motivation has taken over the world!  Or, at least the world inside this little bubble of my life.  :)  Totally loving all of the excitement, challenges, happy faces, sweaty faces, healthy eats and workout plans that have taken over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I purposely haven’t set any written goals.  My return to the gym was a gift to myself--not a resolution.  No unnecessary pressure for this gal.  I have motivation and enjoyment in my corner, and that is everything I need right now.  All I need is to push myself just a wee bit harder every time I step in the gym door, and as long as I see even the teensiest of results each time I will be a happy camper.  Fitting the gym into my hectic schedule has been tough but it’s doable and making it happen is a priority to me.  And when I meet my priorities it’s easier to keep on going.

The one goal I did set is a weight loss goal for January because we are going on vacation in February and I will be a whole lot more comfortable in last Summer’s shorts if I lose a few pounds.  I’ll even treat myself to a new bathing suit if I can reach my goal.  You know, because bathing suit shopping is soooo much fun. *grumble  Bahaha!

Happy thoughts for this week:

• I’ve already lost more than a pound.
• I upped my weights for bicep curls and tricep kickbacks.
• I went from jogging 1 minute at a time, to 3 minutes at a time.
• My bum looks great doing deadlifts.
• We discovered a deeelish low-cal curry shrimp recipe. 

What keeps you motivated?  Did you set New Year’s resolutions?

Pre-January Joiner

Six months ago I lost my workout mojo.  Summer fun kept me out of the gym, and then I took on the full-time second job which all but ate up any extra time I had.  After four months of wasting my gym membership dues, I quit.  I knew at the time that it may be a bad idea to fully quit because then I had nothing pulling me to get back to working out, but at the same time the whole point of working two jobs is to save money so wasting $52 a month was counterproductive.

Since then I’ve done some research on other gym options around Victoria.  I need something cheaper, and more importantly something convenient.  If I’m going to fit a workout in between jobs and making sure my little pooper is looked after, then it has to be at a place I can get to quickly and easily.

A couple of weeks ago I came across an 8-Day Free Trial at Steve Nash Fitness World.  It’s so close to home I could probably reach out an touch it on a clear day. I took the quick intro tour of the gym, the manager set me up with my pass, and told me about the membership details, and I went on my merry way.  After almost exactly six months out of the gym, I was slightly terrified that my lungs might collapse and I wouldn’t be able to carry more than a 3 pound weight.

Thankfully I can still jog at a good pace, I can still walk a set of lunges, and I can still curl a couple of dumbbells.  I might have had to start with one set, and I might have needed a good epsom bath after only 24 squats, but I did it.  And I had fun.  And I went back three more times during that 8 day pass.

On my fourth trip to the gym, I signed up for a membership.  I don’t care that their gym is older and less fancy than Goodlife.  It’s less than half the price I was paying before, it’s so close to home I can’t very well use inconvenience as an excuse, and it has every piece of equipment or class I could ever want.  Next week I will take advantage of a free session with one of the personal trainers, get my body composition recorded and set myself some simple short term goals. 

By joining before the January rush I feel like I pre-empted any feelings I might potentially have about it being a New Year’s resolution that could fail.  Instead it’s just a lovely Christmas present to myself that I am looking forward to getting tons of use out of.  Merry Christmas to me, indeed!

Anyone else find their fitness mojo this holiday season?  Any suggestions for keeping the feeling going through the New Year?

Consider January Joined!

Two days left in the month and I can safely say I hit my workout goals for January! 

What were those goals?  Well, I didn’t want to scare myself away from the gym again so I kept it simple…

• Some kind of activity at least 4 days per week.
• Preferably at least 3 of those days at the gym.
• Basic cardio with lots of stretching.

Aside from the fact that I got the plague immediately following Day 1 and ended up a little delayed at the get-go…I did it!

If you count the next two days (which obviously I do!) I completed 19 activity days in January.  13 gym days, 5 extra walks, 1 at home yoga session.  Not too shabby, eh?!

I do have to admit that this last week started out a little shakey…I lost my motivation for a few days at the beginning of the week, but on Wednesday I did drag my buns out to walk the dog and from there on it was all good!

Wednesday – doggie walk to the park…

Thursday – quiet early day workout…

Friday – happy to burn off some calories in anticipation of dinner…

Saturday – rare weekend trip to the gym (20 extra minutes!)…

Sunday – rainy day walk through the dog park and along the beach.  Chibi was pretty stoked to be soaked!  :)

So, two more days of this January cardio build-up then we get into Fit February.  This means the re-introduction of strength training.  Guess I’d better get to work on that plan!

Any other January Joiners hold it up through the month?  What’s your motivation?  or is anyone in need of a little motivation?

I’m still a January Joiner

Are you?!  How is your healthy lifestyle holding up now that we are a few weeks in?  I’m struggling to see results and let me tell you it’s annoying, but I’m keepin’ on keepin’ on!

Another week of cardio…this time with RUNNING.  Oh lordy.  I decided to up things from my speed walking and get my heart pumping so hard it felt like it would pop out of my mouth.

Monday – new workout – basic HIIT…

• Warm-Up = 3 mins (3.0 – 3.5mph)
• 8x 1 min jogging (4.5mph), 30 sec running (5.5mph), 1:30 min walking (3.5 mph) = 24 mins
• Cool down = 3 mins (3.5 – 2.5 mph)
• TOTAL = 30 minutes

Wednesday – same workout – new playlist…

Saturday – same workout – forgot my socks!

And since yesterday I spent my morning fighting a harrowing windstorm on the highway home from a friend’s house I decided I wasn’t going out in #yyjWindpocalypse again and did some yoga at home.

Sunday – yogadownload.com – Shoulder Opening Flow…

This week is more of the same with the addition of the rowing machine.  Preparing my upper body for the return of strength training in February.

What’s your favourite treadmill workout?

January Joiner Update

Week one back to working out = complete!

Keeping things simple with a few work day cardio sessions at the gym and a couple of outdoor walks with the pupper.  This week I crank up the cardio intensity…and by crank I mean like one minute of jogging.  :)

Monday – view from the gym…

Tuesday – my feets on the treadmill…

Wednesday – walk to the park with Chiberoo…

Thursday – cardio machine lovey dovey…

Friday – post workout schweaty face…

Saturday – rest and relaxation.

Sunday – snow walk with Michael and the doggies…

How is your January Joiner recommitment to life, health and happiness going?

January Joiner

In the past I’ve never really needed a milestone or date marker to ‘start being healthy’.  Overall my lifestyle has been pretty healthy for the last five years…balanced eating, balanced exercise.  A few cupcakes, a few carrots.

But… Somewhere along that long drive from Halifax to Victoria I think I lost my healthy living mojo.  I arrived here on the Island with a sense of entitlement to all things beer, cheese, and burger related.  All in the name of socializing with friends I had missed for the better part of three years. I felt invincible or something.  Like since I’d been so careful with my eating for so long a year of throwing calorie caution to the wind couldn’t hurt me.

Guess what?  Life doesn’t work that way.  If you stop working out, and keep eating poutine your ass gets bigger.  And all of a sudden your entire wardrobe doesn’t fit and you spend your time telling your new boyfriend that you have nothing to wear…ever.

So, instead of whining about it for another six months I’ve decided to join all of the other resolutioners and get my shiz together.  Time to get back to that girl I used to be.  Time to be a January Joiner.

My gym membership has literally been a drain on my bank account for months now.  I had all of that hip/leg/back pain over a year ago that slowed me down and kept me from working out, but honestly it just became the world’s best excuse to not do anything.  I’m acknowledging that now and tackling the simple things I can do and I’ll worry about the more intensive stuff later.

I don’t plan to spend much time here telling you about my escapades in fitness.  My workouts can be random and not all that interesting to anyone (including me!) but if something noteworthy happens I’ll be sure to update you all.

What I will do is eat healthier and share that with you.  Nothing like a month of posting cookie recipes to get a girl in the mood for salads, egg whites, and chicken.  Time to revamp some favourite recipes and see if we can healthify them…and if we can’t then I guess we’ll eat them full-fat and just take an extra trip to the treadmill.

When it doubt, run it out.  Word.

Anyone else a January Joiner? 

What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2012?