Awesome April

Oh my lordy, how the heck is it April already?  March just zoomed on by!

March Madness didn’t come out quite as super-duper-over-the-top as I had originally planned but it certainly was no slouch on the workout frontier.  Overall I got in 20 great activity days: 11 of those at the gym, 1 yoga class, a whopping 7 long walks or hikes, and 1 sweaty cleaning spree at Michael’s house.  Considering I had an injured back and was attacked by a plaguing headache at different points in the month it seems to me things came out just fine!

Last week’s workouts:

Monday – Upper Body Burn + Treadmill Torch

Tuesday – light hike around Thetis Lake

Wednesday – Lower Body Blast + ARC trainer

Thursday, Friday, Saturday – hit with a headache plague :(

Sunday – helped Michael’s sister move + dog park

I apparently slacked as far as photos go, so here’s a cutie of Chibi. ha.

Let’s see how I did on March’s goals…hmmm…?

• completing Winter Shape Up
• trying new muscle group specific strength training
• being far more diligent about what I’m shoving in my mouth
• not skipping weekend dog walks and hikes with Michael
• attending a Zumba class (!!)

Well, I did end up passing on the last week of Winter Shape Up because I was too excited to start making up my own strength workouts. I finalized my Upper Body Burn and will have a Lower Body Blast posted later this week. Not too sure I’ve been more diligent about what I shove in my mouth…some days yes, some days not so much. :) Definitely not skipping weekend walks and hikes when the weather is good. The dogs love us! Instead of Zumba I’m trying BodyPump. I missed the session last week but it’s on my workout plan for this Thursday. Better late than never!

Goals for #AwesomeApril:

• Keep on powering through to-do lists and #EmbraceMonday!
• Drink more water
• 4 x BodyPump – no excuses!
• Weekend hikes and dog walks continued
• Find or create a new healthy snack recipe

Am I the last person ever to try BodyPump?  Are you a fan?  What do you love/hate about the class?  I’m excited!

Active

Finally!  A full week this month where I didn’t have to take time off for an injury.  My back is healthy and strong.  Huzzah!

Lots of activity and healthy eats with a few treats.  Last week I finally broke through a minor weight plateau and I’m really starting to feel a difference in some of my clothes (which is really my goal here…to wear the clothes I don’t fit into anymore).  I bought new jeans and whether it’s vanity sizing or not it felt good to buy a size smaller than I have being trying on lately.  I’ll actually do some measurements next week to see how things are really coming along.

Anyone else feeling some fitness milestones coming through these days??

Monday – upper body strength training and treadmill blast…

Tuesday – walk to and from my mechanic’s shop (in cold disgusting hail and rain I might add…ick)

Wednesday – lower body strength training and ARC trainer…

Thursday – gorgeous day for a long dog walk on the local trail…

Friday – cardio sweat session…

Saturday – after soaking up some amazing sun we took the dogs to the lake for a massive trail walk.  So lovely!

Sunday – had plans for a walk around another lake but instead found myself breaking a sweat helping Michael do some Spring cleaning around his place.  His kitchen cupboards are quite happy now!

Maybe a little light on the strength sessions but overall I’m so pleased with the mix of activities and the amount of outdoor time with the pupper.  Here’s to good weather…happy Spring!

Motivated Madness

Well folks…I have to come clean and admit here that I had another kind of crumby week as far as March Madness goes.  For the second week in a row I missed a few workouts and I let it get to me.  I had a couple of down days and a busy day that messed up my schedule and I let that make me feel like I had failed.

It’s totally dumb because I really didn’t fail at all.  I just didn’t bust it out of the park. 

SO WHAT?!  Stupid guilt.  I still had three pretty great workouts!

Monday – upper body strength training and quick cardio…

Tuesday – totally just didn’t want to go to the gym, so took a walk to the park.  Lots of outdoor bootcampers braving the chilly air!

Wednesday – decided to work at night to make time to fit in my lower body workout…

Thursday – super “blaaaahhh" day…just could not make time for the gym and a was grump all day.  Noticing the blossoms during a quick dog walk helped.

Friday – decided to be two hours late going to Michael’s so I could try out my new shoes and get in a cardio session…

There was no way I was going into St. Patrick’s Day festivities without a bit of a burn the night before! “Will run for beer” comes to mind!

We had a great weekend celebrating, hanging out with friends and family, eating yummy Chinese take-out and Sunday brunch, and just chilling out all day yesterday.  It was just what I needed to brush the slate clean and wake-up this morning feeling renewed and motivated.

I’m armed with a new workout plan for the week, a meal plan, fresh groceries and a good attitude.  It also helps that my back seems to have mended itself!  March Madness is Motivated!

Anyone else hit a rut in your workout mojo recently? Does an injury set you back?  Hit you hard mentally or emotionally?

#MadMarch Slow Start

Last week’s workouts?  Hmmm…a little off. 

At the end of the previous week my lower back ended up being really tender.  Sadly I have to blame yoga.  No matter how careful I am not to push myself too much I always seem to end up reactivating an injury. 

Yoga and I just aren’t meant to be and it makes me sad.

Looks like it’s back to the chiropractor for me just to make sure I haven’t thrown anything out of serious alignment. 

Last year I spent over $1000 trying to fix a hip and back issue, which was eventually solved with two sessions of ART and a $6 shoe insert.  Considering I was at chiro, physio or massage at least once a week for months it’s been a delight to not have to do any of that for the last five months.  My bank account has been seriously happy, but if one or two visits means I don’t go through another year of pain and recovery I shall do it!

I took the weekend and Monday off, then got back into the swing of things. I kept it simple and easier than previous weeks and it seems like my body is on the mend.

Tuesday – 45 minute walk with the dog along the Galloping Goose…

Wednesday – I created a simple upper body workout and tackled a short but sweaty cardio session…

Thursday – off to make sure not to overdo it.

Friday – An on-the-fly lower body workout and sweaty cardio blast…

Saturday – Michael and I loaded the dogs into the car for a late afternoon hike.  We ended up out there for almost 2 hours and came home muddy and hungry.  Good times.

{and I managed to fit in one of my March goals too – photo day!}

So, a bit of a slow start to March Madness but this week I’ll aim to make up for it.  Strength training for the win!!

March Madness

Yay!!  Fit February success!  Another month of fun with fitness down, only a lifetime to go.  :) 

Yet again I was struck by the plague this past month but I didn’t let it derail me from my goals.  I missed three workouts but as soon as I could breathe again I was back at it with make-up days and all.  I’m finally at that place where I actually feel sad when I miss a workout.  Maybe it’s those sad faces I draw on my workout log when my plans fall apart.  Ha.

Of the 29 days in February I completed 20 workouts!!  15 days at the gym, 3 extra outdoor walks, and 2 yoga classes.  I ended up with 1 more day than I did in January.  This is my pleased face.  :)

This last week found me missing a couple of gym days but only for rest my body was telling me it needed.  ie: passing out on the couch at 5:01pm is generally tell-tale that you are tired!

Monday – Winter Shape Up Week Three, Day One

Tuesday – zonked on sofa.

Wednesday – Winter Shape Up Week Three, Day Two

Thursday – a little extra cardio to make up for missing Tuesday before a seriously stretchy yoga class…

Friday – sore back from yoga so opted out of WSU and subbed a quick cardio session instead…

Saturday we took the dogs for a jaunt around the dog park and Sunday I parked my butt at the dining table and worked on a puzzle.  Fitness for my brain you know!

The big goal for February was to reintroduce a good strength training plan.  I tackled the Winter Shape Up from Fitnessista and feel pretty good about my progress.  Admittedly I am still fearful of re-injuring myself so I’ve taken it easier than I probably have to but I have already seen a difference in my stamina and body shape, and feel like it’s kick started my metabolism.  I actually lost a couple of pounds this month and although I haven’t checked my measurements yet I’m sure there will be good news there as well.

{note: my sore shoulder and bad back have reared their ugly heads this week but I am thinking good thoughts and only plan to discuss it if it really derails me.}

March Madness entails more of the same dedication…

• completing Winter Shape Up
• trying new muscle group specific strength training
• being far more diligent about what I’m shoving in my mouth
• not skipping weekend dog walks and hikes with Michael
• attending a Zumba class (!!)

How did your February go?  What are your goals for #MadMarch?