Friday, December 31, 2010

Cardio Blitz - recap

So December has come to an end and I successfully achieved my goal of 40 minutes of cardio for at least 4 days per week. I did that for 5 weeks! Go me!

The first 2 weeks, I exercised in the morning prior to work, Monday through Thursday. I rested on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. I changed it up, not intentionally, during week 3. I did the normal AM workout Monday-Thursday for 40 minutes. I also added a Zumba class that Wednesday night, and on Saturday I ran to and from the gym and did a Zumba class. All in all, I got in 7 workouts of (on average) 40 minutes.

During week 4, my workout changed just slightly. I still got in the 4 days of 40 minutes, but my rest day came in the middle of the week. I exercised Monday-Tuesday and Thursday and Friday. I also did a run to and from the gym on that Friday.

This last week, I changed it up again. This, to me, was the most intense week (again unintentional) in that I did 4o minutes of cardio on Monday and followed that up with a boot camp class. Whew! It was quite intense and the soreness was major. I made it the gym the next day, Tuesday for 40 minutes, but needed to rest on Wednesday. I was back on Thursday and Friday (today) for a short session on the elliptical and another exercise class.

All in all, I'm really proud of myself and glad at what I accomplished:
  • 2 Zumba classes
  • 1 boot camp class
  • 1 HABIT class
  • running to and from the gym
  • engaging in group exercise classes
  • utilizing the treadmill
This was a good month! I'm looking forward to doing more in 2011 since the gym is so much closer to my house. That, I think, makes a world difference and will allow me to increase my workouts and offer diversity (more on that later).

So glad I ended 2010 in this manner.

Cardio Blitz - day 20 - 75 min

Whoa! This last day of my Cardio Blitz was a doozy! I started off with 15 minutes on the elliptical knowing I was going to take a group exercise class at 8:30 which was 60 minutes. The title of the class is HABIT: Hips, Abs, Butt, & Incredible Thighs (oh my! - I think they should add that to the acronym, it would be most appropriate considering how you feel at the end.)

It was quite the workout. Kinda similar to the boot camp class I did on Monday, but without the treadmill part. We did front squats, lunges, side bends, side squats, leg lifts, inner thigh lifts, butt lifts, several abs exercise on the ball, and reverse crunches. That may not seem like a lot, but we did them with weights and many, many, many times. Oh, I shall feel it later today and most definitely tomorrow especially since the soreness from Monday was still lingering slightly.

Ended the blitz on a high note!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 19 - 40 min

My rest day yesterday was needed. Though I'm still store, I don't feel quite as bad as yesterday. This morning's workout was quite refreshing, and I'm ready to get my butt kicked again tomorrow. There's a class called HABIT: Hips, Abs, Butts, & Incredible Thighs! (oh my!) I'm sure that class will work muscles I haven't worked in ages, and I'll be cussin' & fussin' about the soreness come Saturday. Oh well, no pain, no gain, right?

This AM I got in exactly 40 minutes of cardio. 20 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the treadmill. I didn't do the cool down at all.

One more day and I will have reached my goal of 40 minutes of cardio at least 4 days of week for the entire month of December. Almost there!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 18 - 44 min

I was a trooper this AM and made the gym despite my body wanting to just lay around and not move due to soreness. I knew, however, that I needed to go so that my muscles could stay loose so off I went. I completed 32 min on the elliptical and 12 min on the treadmill. On a scale of 1 to 10 my soreness is an 8. I knew those squats and lunges would do me in!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Cardio Blitz - Day 17 - worn out!

I'm off work today so I knew I didn't have to go to the gym at my usual 5 AM time. I slept in and headed over there about 7:40. I looked at the group exercise schedule and saw there was a Boot Camp class at 8:30. If I had known that earlier, I probably would have just taken the class instead of the machines. But, I was there so I got on the elliptical and rocked out 20 minutes. I then moved to the treadmill for 20 minutes. I was about 15 minutes in when one of the worker sidled up to me, and asked if I was planning on taking the boot camp class. I said that I had thought about it, but since I was already on my way to 40 minutes of cardio, probably not. He said okay.

I looked at the time, and the time left on the treadmill and realized that if I really wanted to, I could do the bootcamp class since I didn't have anywhere to be this morning (or day). I finished up the 20 minutes and headed over. I had no idea of what I was getting myself into, but I did it with as much gusto as I could muster up.

Oh my goodness! I'm going to feel it tomorrow! The squats, lunges (forward and sideways!), arm curls, front raises, side raises, abdominal exercise, push-ups, and running on the treadmill will cause me to be majorly sore come tomorrow AM. I just know it! She really pushed us, and I pushed myself (running on the treadmill!).

So today's workout consisted of 40 minutes of cardio + 1 hour of boot camp = WORN OUT!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 15 & 16

I failed to update the blog yesterday even though I completed cardio yesterday. I was too busy baking and prepping for a party last night.

So, yesterday I completed 44 minutes of cardio, 22 minutes on the elliptical and 22 minutes on the bike. I didn't go as early as normal since I was off from work, but I did go in the AM.

Today I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, but I book-ended the workout with a run to and from the gym. Doing so gave me 35 minutes of running for just over 1 hour of cardio today. Bonus! So, although I didn't make the gym 4 straight days this week, I did get in 4 days of cardio. I guess Wednesday was my rest day!



Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Cardio Blitz - no go

No workout this AM. Stayed up waaaaayyyyyy to late last night so there was no way I was going to be at the gym for 5 am this morning. I'm okay with the miss. It's one day when I've made all of the other days I aimed to go, and got in 2 bonus workouts last week. I'll be back at it tomorrow!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 14 - 44 min

Today is a Great day! It's my Birthday! Despite it being my birthday, I didn't take the day off from the gym. Health is still important! I'm grateful to have lived another year and started the day I was born off with 44 minutes of cardio. 22 minutes on the elliptical (forwards & backwards pedaling) and 22 minutes on the stationery bike. I'm feeling good!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 13 - 44 min

Week 4 of cardio blitz, and all is well. I really haven't been paying attention to the scale all that much, but I know I'm doing something right due to how my clothes are fitting. I had on a pair of slacks yesterday that were quite loose in the waist. That's a good feeling!

Today I did 22 minutes on the stationery bike and 22 minutes on the treadmill. I'm slowly building my stamina on the treadmill doing the random hill program.

Cardio Blitz - bonus day

I decided to get in an extra day of cardio over the weekend. As I stated before, I joined a new facility which is quite close to my house. It is so close that I can walk, run, or ride my bike. I debated about using my own power (not a car) to get there on Saturday morning, just to see the distance and time it would take me. I left it up to the weather on Saturday morning as to whether that would take place. It turned out to be pretty nice, so I set out to do a walk/run.

I needed to be there for 9:30 as that is the time the Zumba class I wanted to take began. Now, you may think I'm crazy to do a walk/run to the gym, do an hour Zumba class, then walk/run home, but that's what I aimed to do. And I did!





As you can see, from the images, the walk/run there took me just over 1 minute longer. I can only assume that was because I was engaging in exercise on the way to the gym on a cold body. Whereas on the way back, I had the walk/run, then a full hour of cardio so my body was warm and much more ready to move on its own power for the walk/run back.

My goal is to be able to run the entire distance to the gym in about 12 minutes. That will probably take some time since the only day I can really run to to the gym is on Saturday. It gets dark too early to do so during the week. In due time though!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Cardio Blitz - rest day

I've made to the end of week 3 of my cardio blitz. Two more weeks to go! Come January, I'll change up my routine, once again. Change is good for the body!

Actually, I'm going to change it up next week, somewhat, since I'm going to add in a few group exercise classes to my routine. I did a step class this past Wednesday night (which kicked my butt!) and tomorrow I'm going to do a Zumba class. I plan on doing 2 group exercise classes in addition to my morning cardio workout. I'm kickin' it up a notch!

Have an excellent day!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 12 - 45 min

Did you read about the additional cardio I completed yesterday evening? I attended a step class at my gym. It was quite the workout! I don't feel the soreness yet, but I'm sure it's coming.

This morning I broke up my routine by completing 15 minutes on the three machines in the cardio room: elliptical, bike, and treadmill. I completed the random hill routine on each of the machines. Worked up a good sweat and the time just flew by!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 11 - 60 min (part 2)

I decided to head to the gym this evening to attend a Step-n-Tone class. Normally, I don't attend group exercise classes, but I decided to try something different tonight. Oh boy! What a workout! We'd only been at it 15 min. and I was thinking at least 30 min. had passed. It was definitely a good cardio workout. I'm sure I'll go again.

There's a Zumba class right after the Step class. A lady I knew was staying for that one also. She tried to convince me to stay, but I couldn't do it. Maybe next week.

With this morning's workout and this evening's class I got in about 1 hr 45 min of cardo. Good deal!

Cardio Blitz - day 11 - 40-45 min

Over the past few years I would listen to various podcasts while working out. The past few months, probably since October, I've been reading while on the cardio machine and listening to a podcast while doing weights. Well, since I'm doing strictly cardio I'm getting a lot of reading done. This being a new gym and all, they don't have book holders for the cardio machines. Yes, the machines have a little ledge fro the book to sit on, but the book won't stay open without holding it awkwardly (especially on the elliptical).

This morning I got on the elliptical, per the norm, and began my workout. At some point, as I was adjusting the book I inadvertently hit a button and cleared out my workout! Argh! I have no idea of how long I had been on there. I reset if for another 10 minutes and went about my workout. This makes me glad I purchased one of those book holders for myself. It should arrive today. I heart Amazon.com. :)

Today's workout:
Elliptical - 15-20 min.
Bike - 10 min.
Treadmill - 10 min. (all walking)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 10 - 46 min

Nothing new to report except I did the same routine as yesterday. 23 min on the elliptical and 23 min on the bike.

Again, this is getting boring. I may try my hand at the treadmill. Not really sure if I want to go that route, I'm afraid it will aggravate my knee. It has probably been over 2 years since I stepped on a treadmill. We'll see....

Monday, December 13, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 9 - 46 min

Entering week 3 of my December Cardio Blitz. So far so good.

This morning's workout consisted of 23 min on the elliptical and 23 min on the bike. Those 2 machines are getting boring. I miss the stairmaster. Unfortunately, there isn't a stairmaster at this new facility. The cardio machines they have are the elliptical, bike (recumbent and stationary), treadmills, and spin bikes. My preference is to stay away from the treadmill. I've not tried the spin bikes so that leaves only 2 machines for me to use. Ho hum.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Cardio Blitz - rest day

Well, I've made it through another 4 days of cardio for my cardio blitz to rest day. I'm not as hobbled as I was last Friday so that's a good thing. My body has adjusted to the extended cardio. Yay!

This week I joined a new gym (see day 6) that's closer to my home. Whenever one goes to something new, it's different and hard to adjust. As I became acquainted with the facility, of course, I found myself comparing it to the gym I've been utilizing for the past 3 years. It wasn't always a good comparison in that I thought it was inferior or found things I didn't like. I had to take a step back though. Change is difficult. I wanted this change since it was close to home. So I need to adjust. Which, I'll do.

The one thing, I feel, that I won't adjust to is the locker room. More specifically, the lockers in the locker room. Take a look:





They are TINY! I mean small! My gym bag doesn't fit, clothing is cramped, and the shelving is limited. I don't think I'll ever like the locker. No question about it. Will I use them? Yep. Will I like them? Nope!

I think whoever designed these lockers didn't do quality assurance testing on them. If they did, they ignored the results. If a person, like me, goes to the gym prior to work we need various things to get ready for the day, including clothing that may be on hangars. Well, clothes on hangers will not fit in those lockers! If there wasn't a the L shaped part, then possibly clothing could fit, but as it is now? Nada.

It has been cold here this week so I've had to take in my coat. It takes up ALL of that space on the right. I mean all of it! Ugh. I'm not happy, but I'll deal.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 8 - 46 min

Living really close to the gym is AWESOME! I get there in no time less than 5 min. This morning I left home at 4:53 and I was there right at 4:57. I was able to go in and be on the machine about 5:02. I did the same routine as yesterday: 30 min + 3 min cool down on the elliptical and 10 min + 3 min cool down on the bike.

It is interesting how 5 or 10 min can make a difference. Because I'm there right at 5 am I'm on the machine about 2-3 min after 5:00. At the other gym I may or may not have arrived by 5 am, most of the time it was 5:05 which meant I wasn't on a machine until 5:10 or so. Those 10 min. make a BIG difference! I looked at the time when I finished the elliptical and it was about 5:35. I quickly moved to the bike and I was done by 5:50. Last week, at the other gym, I wasn't finishing my 40-46 min workout until 6 AM. I chalk it up to having to drive less distance.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 7 - 46 min

I joined a new gym and today was its first day of operation. It opened at 5 am and I was there at 4:50. I was there so early because I followed my normal routine of awaking and leaving for the gym, the only thing is, this gym is 5 minutes from my house. Therefore, I don't need to leave as early or get up as early! Sweet!

I did 30 minutes on the elliptical with a 3 minute cool down followed by 10 minutes on the bike with a 3 minute cool down.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 6 - 45 min

It was extremely cold this AM and still is for South Louisiana. Check out the screen shot taken at 4:31 AM:



Brr! I didn't let it stop me. I made the gym and got in 20 min on the stairmaster and 25 min on the bike. I tell ya, the last 7 min of the workout (not the cooldown) were tough to get through. I SO wanted to get off of that bike, but I kept pedaling. Must.stay.focused!

I check the temperature when I got in my car and the temperature had dropped 1 degree!

Do does the cold weather stall your workouts?

Monday, December 6, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 5 - 43 min

I continued my December goal this morning by completing 43 minutes of cardio this morning. I was running late so I knew I wasn't going to get the cool down on both of the machines, which was fine as I don't always do the cool down on both machines. Anywho, I did 25 min on the elliptical (backwards & forwards pedaling) and 18 min on the bike.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Cardio Blitz - rest day

Today, thankfully, is a rest day. It is needed. Yesterday afternoon my knee started hurting. By the time I left work I was in serious pain. It was even tender to touch on the left side of the kneecap. So today is the perfect rest day and truly needed. I've been taking my arthritis medicine each day this week to prevent this type of thing from happening, but perhaps the stress of doing that much cardio each day was too much. I may need to adjust next week.

I used the stairmster 3 of the 4 days. I probably shouldn't use it that much. Hmmmm...will make changes next week.

Next week will also bring changes to my workout location. More on that later! I will say that I'm excited about the change!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 4 - 43 min

I jumped on the elliptical for 25 min this morning. When I do the elliptical I generally start with pedaling backwards. I try to do at least half of the time in that direction then switch to forward motion. Sometimes I end up doing more time pedaling backwards due to my not looking at the time. Today was one of those days. When I finally looked at the time I was 18 minutes into my workout. woo! That left 7 minutes for forward pedaling. That time went by quickly!

I immediately jumped on the bike for 15 minutes and it went by with the quickness. I did the 3 minute cool down for a total of 43 minutes today.

I can definitely feel the workouts in my calves. That always happens when I go backwards on the elliptical.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Cardio Blitz - day 3 - 45 min

I wanted to do an even split with this morning's cardio. The stairmaster lady was there, but she was on an ellpitical machine. Yay! I hit the stairmaster first for 20 minutes of cardio with a 2 minute cool down. I moved to the elliptical for 20 minutes and a 3 minute cool down.

I stepped on the scale yesterday morning to document my weight. At the end of the month, I aim to either be the same or slightly lower. The goal is no gain!