Back in the fitness center today. I used the good elliptical for 45 minutes and burned about 400 calories. Woohoo!! I really like the better elliptical machine... the running movement feels a lot more natural and smooth.
January 2012 Archives
The gym was packed this morning. Apparently everyone needed a good workout after shoveling snow yesterday.
No swimming on Sundays because the pool is full of classes and children. So it was fitness center time. There were no ellipticals available, so I started with biking. I did a moderate ride today... 5.4 miles in 30 minutes.
When I switched to the elliptical, I tried a different style elliptical. This one I was able to do a little program that it had set in it. I only realized toward the end of the 20 minutes that I had been "running" backwards the entire time. Oh well, probably worked some good muscles. I also didn't realize until the end how to switch so that I could watch the TV, not just hear it.
Trying to decide if I go to the gym in the morning tomorrow before work or if I wait and go after work.
More swimming... 25 laps freestyle, 20 laps breast stroke!
Back to the gym and back into the pool!
Today I sported my new swimcap and some ear plugs. I successfully completed my laps without getting water in my ears. The cap + ear plugs was a little tough on my ears (pinchy and tight), but better a little discomfort than a day of water in my ear.
I swam 12 laps breast stroke and 30 laps free style. I realized when I started that I was swimming too fast and getting too tired. Once I slowed down, I was doing a lot better. I still get out of breath pretty quickly, but I'm going to keep at it!
Back to the gym tonight!
25 minutes on the elliptical (about 1 mile)
20 minutes on the bike (about 3 miles)
Very exhausted Dr. Girlfriend!
I took the plunge! I went swimming this evening. Kevin and I went to the gym together when he got home from work. I took a quick look into the pool area and it didn't seem too crowded, so I decided to go for it.
I was a bit nervous (I hate doing new things). As it turns out, I needed a swim cap, and since I didn't have one, I had to borrow one from the lifeguard (ewww!!). But I got in the pool and swam. I haven't swam laps since I was a kid learning to swim. Most of my pool time growing up was spent splashing around and playing, but my parents did get me swim lessons, so I know the basic strokes and can swim freestyle and breast stroke well (I'm terrible at back stroke, I can't swim straight... and my lessons got to butterfly, but we didn't spend much time on it, so I know the mechanics, but not how to execute them well).
I swam 20 laps (10 of each stroke). The pool is 25 yards long. Because I'm just getting into this, I would swim a lap and then rest for a few seconds or a minute, then swim another lap.
I'm excited to go back and swim again, although I'm waiting until I have my own swim cap and also some ear plugs.
Back to the gym this morning. This time solo. I started with 20 minutes on the elliptical (totalled about .8 miles) and then I did 15 minutes on the bike (about 2.9 miles).
I was tempted to get bold and visit the pool (eek!), but I peeked in the pool and there appeared to be a hoard of old ladies, so I decided I try swimming tomorrow.
When I got home, I did Turbo Fire 10 minute Abs and the 10 minute Stretch.
Didn't expect a Sunday workout did you?
Get ready to be surprised even more....
I went to the gym!! What?! Yep, worked out at a gym today. Kevin and I decided to join the local Y. This morning was our first workout. We each did our own things.
I rode on a bike for 20 minutes and went about 4.5 miles. Then I tried an elliptical machine for about 10 minutes. By then I felt like puking, so I figured that was my limit and quit for the day. I have big plans for going back tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Workout: Tone 30 + Abs 10 (Turbo Fire)
Wii Fit BMI: 24.18 (eek!!)
Still very sore. The abs workout was killer because I could barely move! I didn't like the Tone workout as much as I liked the Sculpt workout. Both are very arms focused.
Oooohhhh... arms hurt, butt hurts, abs hurt..... need lunch then will workout in afternoon, if I can move!
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Workout: Turbo Fire - Fire 45
Wii Fit BMI: 24.10
Wow that kicked my butt! It was less that I was out of shape and huffing and puffing, but more than my muscles were screaming with each punch, kick, and jump. But I made it through and with intensity. After the cardio, I did the 10 minute stretch, which felt really nice. My muscles are still sore, but not as tight. Even though it is impossible for there to be physical changes after 2 workouts, the mental change of feeling those sore muscles makes me feel fitter and slimmer.
Now I just need to get to exercising in the morning so I can be on a good track for when work starts again...
A new year and a new reinvigorated plan for exercise! This isn't a resolution because resolutions always get abandoned. This is the establishment of a good workout habit. I will be recording my progress on the blog and an excel worksheet for accountability.
I'm also going to combine more strength training with the cardio. Turbo Fire includes a variety of cardio and some strength training. My plan is to do combinations of the sculpt or tone + upper or lower + abs every other day. As I learned today, sculpt is killer on the arms, so it likely pairs best with lower. Days that don't involve strength will involve cardio. And if I get really ambitious, maybe I'll try to do a little strength and cardio on the same day!
The sheet calculates total time per day and then total time at the end of the week. The higher/lower column compares week to week total time. If total time is less than the previous week, I get a "Boo!" If total time is the same as or more than the previous week, I get a "Yay!"
Day 1 is complete. The sculpt 30 is very arms intensive. I used weights instead of the resistance band because I don't really like the bands that I have. I had tried sculpt previously so it wasn't entirely new, but it went by fast. Lower 20 was completely new to me and was pretty tough. I used the elastic band and was glad when it was over. Abs 10 is killer, but at least it goes very fast. Feeling good now, not even sore!
