Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
You know what's not so nice ... ?
Traveling while on an exercise/nutrition plan.
Today I traveled to Washington, DC and may have allowed myself to have a sandwich with extra cheese to go along with two Cokes and two (okay three) cookies. I realize I could have planned better, but too bad for me I didn't.
And. I didn't bring my P90X DVD's. This hotel better have a heck of a gym.
Today I traveled to Washington, DC and may have allowed myself to have a sandwich with extra cheese to go along with two Cokes and two (okay three) cookies. I realize I could have planned better, but too bad for me I didn't.
And. I didn't bring my P90X DVD's. This hotel better have a heck of a gym.
Monday, November 15, 2010
You know what's nice ... ?
Working out on the weekend. Honestly, what a concept! This weekend I got up relatively early both Saturday and Sunday (despite going to bed late!) and pushed play with Tony. This really set the tone for the rest of the day.
I know what you're thinking. "Umm, so, is this the first time that you've ever worked out on the weekend? That's so sad." Calm down, it's not. But, when I can just workout right in my home, it's so easy to make it one of the first things on my to-do list which, in turn, makes it that much easier to commit to it. And if I hadn't worked out over the weekend? I'd feel bad.
So I get up both weekend mornings, have a nice workout, make myself a big breakfast, brew some fair trade coffee, read the newspaper and have two rockstar days. Unfortunately Saturday I had a fall harvest party where I probably consumed the amount of calories (+ some) that I used up this morning, but that's aside from the point. The point is, working out in the morning (when you have enough time to do it right) is quite arguably the best thing you can do on a weekend morning! Seriously!
Seriously. That's all I've got.
I know what you're thinking. "Umm, so, is this the first time that you've ever worked out on the weekend? That's so sad." Calm down, it's not. But, when I can just workout right in my home, it's so easy to make it one of the first things on my to-do list which, in turn, makes it that much easier to commit to it. And if I hadn't worked out over the weekend? I'd feel bad.
So I get up both weekend mornings, have a nice workout, make myself a big breakfast, brew some fair trade coffee, read the newspaper and have two rockstar days. Unfortunately Saturday I had a fall harvest party where I probably consumed the amount of calories (+ some) that I used up this morning, but that's aside from the point. The point is, working out in the morning (when you have enough time to do it right) is quite arguably the best thing you can do on a weekend morning! Seriously!
Seriously. That's all I've got.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sleep Beware: Arms & Abs (Day 3)
Typically, I disagree when people say they don't have enough time to workout; especially if that workout is being done at home. "You have time to watch 2 hours of reality TV but no time to take care of your body? You lazy little thing!" (or something more snarky). However, without proper planning, your whole exercise/shower/cook/eat evening process can easily consume your entire night leaving you with little time left for yourself/your family/your friends/your ______. And that sucks! You are getting this great new body and you can't even go anywhere and celebrate. Lame.
Turns out this just takes a little planning - or in my case, lack there of. I had a meeting on Tuesday evening and by the time I got home it was almost 9pm. Out of respect for my lower level neighbors (and, quite frankly, because I was tired), I decided I would head to bed and force myself awake at 5am to take on Tony.
For night people, Tony is not quite (read: not at all) as funny in the morning as he is after you've been awake for several hours. He also appears to be much more flexible than I am when it comes to some of the ab exercises (I can't keep my leg straight!) which is bound to ruffle the feathers of even the friendliest night owl. But after you get warmed up, it's not so bad.
I am not dedicating myself to morning workouts because I know myself and I know how much I love seeing a 7 on my alarm clock as opposed to a 5. However, I don't love taking two showers a day - especially since it is getting cold out and my skin is starting to get dry. Two showers is not good for dry skin people! No good at all! I would weigh more pros and cons but I was up early and now I'm tired. The point is, it's not necessarily the workouts that take up so much time, but all the other stuff you have to do (or forgo) on account of the workout. Without proper planning, I can see how people say they don't have time for workouts. They also don't have much for time management skills (most likely), but their point is noted and has the potential of being valid.
Food for thought of the day? Who schedules a meeting at 5am? Nobody I know but me, all my fellow fitness freaks and Tony Horton. Sleep beware, we may be hitting the hay a little earlier.
Turns out this just takes a little planning - or in my case, lack there of. I had a meeting on Tuesday evening and by the time I got home it was almost 9pm. Out of respect for my lower level neighbors (and, quite frankly, because I was tired), I decided I would head to bed and force myself awake at 5am to take on Tony.
For night people, Tony is not quite (read: not at all) as funny in the morning as he is after you've been awake for several hours. He also appears to be much more flexible than I am when it comes to some of the ab exercises (I can't keep my leg straight!) which is bound to ruffle the feathers of even the friendliest night owl. But after you get warmed up, it's not so bad.
I am not dedicating myself to morning workouts because I know myself and I know how much I love seeing a 7 on my alarm clock as opposed to a 5. However, I don't love taking two showers a day - especially since it is getting cold out and my skin is starting to get dry. Two showers is not good for dry skin people! No good at all! I would weigh more pros and cons but I was up early and now I'm tired. The point is, it's not necessarily the workouts that take up so much time, but all the other stuff you have to do (or forgo) on account of the workout. Without proper planning, I can see how people say they don't have time for workouts. They also don't have much for time management skills (most likely), but their point is noted and has the potential of being valid.
Food for thought of the day? Who schedules a meeting at 5am? Nobody I know but me, all my fellow fitness freaks and Tony Horton. Sleep beware, we may be hitting the hay a little earlier.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Plyometrics - Day 2
Two points of note regarding today's workout:
1. If you live on the second (or third, or thirty-fifth) floor of an apartment complex, or you have not perfected the art of soft landings, or you occasionally tend to jump a little too far and bump into your chair ... look out. You know that neighbor that you occasionally say hello to? They will no longer like you as much. They may also be jealous of the wild and crazy lifestyle that you may or may not be having ;-) Mums the word! You don't know them that well anyway!
2. You know those people that can jump really high in place? You are probably not one of them. Enter: a new respect for these freaks of nature.
In other news, my salmon dinner is rocking tonight. Bon appetite mi amigos!
1. If you live on the second (or third, or thirty-fifth) floor of an apartment complex, or you have not perfected the art of soft landings, or you occasionally tend to jump a little too far and bump into your chair ... look out. You know that neighbor that you occasionally say hello to? They will no longer like you as much. They may also be jealous of the wild and crazy lifestyle that you may or may not be having ;-) Mums the word! You don't know them that well anyway!
2. You know those people that can jump really high in place? You are probably not one of them. Enter: a new respect for these freaks of nature.
In other news, my salmon dinner is rocking tonight. Bon appetite mi amigos!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Day 1
It is luck that I only have three followers because my lack of keeping up with you all over the past month has been atrocious. I apologize - no excuses. But I'm back.
It's day one and after my workout my hands are sore, my abs are sore and my arms and legs are shaking a little bit as I sip my recovery drink. Today's challenges were chest, back and abs. This proves to be quite a turn-off if you suck at push-ups, pull-ups and everything similar like I do. Regardless, I "pushed play" and while I had to pause the program 3 times and modify several of the exercises, I finished day one.
Today's workout was really hard and I encountered three majors problems:
#1 - My kitchen chairs clearly weren't designed to support decline push-ups or act as pull-up assistants. Seeing that I can only legitimately do one pull-up on my own, I need the chair for support. Tony's gym has pull up bars that you have to jump to grab, mine I can reach easily from my tip-toes. This makes the issue of chair support a tricky one. I felt like when I had my leg on the chair I was putting way too much weight on it. Once I master that art, I will share with you.
#2 - Unless I want to have constant floor-burn looking hands, I need those little push-up support things and/or a yoga mat. The carpet is also hard on your hands for things like the dive-bomber and diamond push-ups. There is a reason Tony's gym doesn't have carpet: carpet sucks.
#3 - I need some more weights. I have ten and twelve pound weights, but for some of the exercises I am going to need more. I think I'll run out to the store and grab some today. ($$$$$)
It's tough to start a new program and Tony definitely is not there to whisk you around joyfully like a bout of Jazzercise. This shit is hard. It's hard for the guys that are on the video and it's definitely hard for me. But it's day one and overall, I feel like I got a great workout in today. I can't wait to see what my body can do in a few weeks and months.
Signing off for now - but I'll be back. So long as I can type.
It's day one and after my workout my hands are sore, my abs are sore and my arms and legs are shaking a little bit as I sip my recovery drink. Today's challenges were chest, back and abs. This proves to be quite a turn-off if you suck at push-ups, pull-ups and everything similar like I do. Regardless, I "pushed play" and while I had to pause the program 3 times and modify several of the exercises, I finished day one.
Today's workout was really hard and I encountered three majors problems:
#1 - My kitchen chairs clearly weren't designed to support decline push-ups or act as pull-up assistants. Seeing that I can only legitimately do one pull-up on my own, I need the chair for support. Tony's gym has pull up bars that you have to jump to grab, mine I can reach easily from my tip-toes. This makes the issue of chair support a tricky one. I felt like when I had my leg on the chair I was putting way too much weight on it. Once I master that art, I will share with you.
#2 - Unless I want to have constant floor-burn looking hands, I need those little push-up support things and/or a yoga mat. The carpet is also hard on your hands for things like the dive-bomber and diamond push-ups. There is a reason Tony's gym doesn't have carpet: carpet sucks.
#3 - I need some more weights. I have ten and twelve pound weights, but for some of the exercises I am going to need more. I think I'll run out to the store and grab some today. ($$$$$)
It's tough to start a new program and Tony definitely is not there to whisk you around joyfully like a bout of Jazzercise. This shit is hard. It's hard for the guys that are on the video and it's definitely hard for me. But it's day one and overall, I feel like I got a great workout in today. I can't wait to see what my body can do in a few weeks and months.
Signing off for now - but I'll be back. So long as I can type.
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